Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders unveiled a $149.3 million award package for 50 Arkansas health providers under the first round of the Rural Health Transformation Program (RHTP). The grants, authorized by the One Big Beautiful Bill signed July 4, 2025, are part of a $50 billion federal investment slated for 2026‑2030.
Funding breakdown and local impact
The Arkansas Department of Finance and Administration expects the state to receive roughly $1 billion in RHTP money over the next five years. This initial round allocates $55.7 million to the Telehealth, Health‑Monitoring and Response Innovation for Vital Expansion (THRIVE) initiative and $93.6 million to the Promoting Access Coordination and Transformation (PACT) priority.
Among the recipients, the Arkansas Rural Health Partnership secured $18.8 million in combined THRIVE and PACT funding. Member hospitals include Little River Memorial Hospital in Ashdown, Sevier County Medical Center in De Queen, Howard Memorial Hospital in Nashville and Southwest Arkansas Regional Medical Center.
Southwest Arkansas Regional, now owned by Pafford Medical Services since 2024, will receive just over $1 million. The award will be used for four specific projects:
- $774,340 for a new emergency generator to ensure power continuity.
- $176,850 to expand specialty‑care access via telemedicine, including virtual physician carts that connect patients with remote specialists.
- $35,370 for emergency teleconsultation, giving the emergency department rapid access to expert advice.
- $25,500 to bolster behavioral‑health services, improving care for patients facing mental‑health crises.
“These investments will make a meaningful difference in our ability to care for the people of Southwest Arkansas,” said Shelby Brown, Chief Administrative Officer of Southwest Arkansas Regional. “This funding gives us the opportunity to expand the care and resources available to patients in our community and make sure more people can get the care they need.”
What THRIVE and PACT aim to achieve
THRIVE seeks to modernize rural health delivery by supporting locally driven clinical networks, data sharing and regional collaboration. PACT focuses on bringing specialty care, preventive screenings, telehealth and trauma‑ready services to underserved areas.
Both initiatives reflect a broader federal commitment to strengthen rural health infrastructure, reduce travel burdens for patients, and address gaps in behavioral‑health resources that have long challenged Arkansas’s smaller communities.
Looking ahead
The state plans to award an additional $209 million by this fall, further expanding the reach of telehealth, specialty services and emergency preparedness across Arkansas’s rural landscape. A full list of grant recipients is available at the Arkansas Department of Finance and Administration’s website.
Original reporting: Texarkana Gazette — read the source article.
