In January 2026, as rural healthcare continues to face challenges like geographic isolation, provider shortages, and limited infrastructure, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) Rural Health Transformation (RHT) Program stands out as a pivotal initiative. This $50 billion effort awards funds to all 50 states to bolster rural health systems, with a strong emphasis on innovative capabilities like telemedicine and telehealth.
The Arizona Telemedicine Program Blog, Category: News & Events
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services’ (CMS) “Rural Health Transformation Program (RHTP),” notice of funding opportunity (NOFO), published September 15, 2025, provides States with an historic funding opportunity that seeks to help them transform healthcare delivery for their rural residents. Each state can separately apply for a portion of $25 billion dollars of “Workload Funding” which is in addition to $25 billion dollars of “Baseline Funding”.
The 2023 Arizona Telehealth Policy Summit kicked off its first in-person gathering since the pandemic with more than 130 people, 70 people in-person in Phoenix, and more than 60 others viewed the live video stream from remote locations.
“This is our fourth summit, but the first one we've had in-person with a virtual option since the public health emergency,” said Tara Sklar, associate director of Telehealth Law and Policy with the Arizona Telemedicine Program and director of the Health Law and Policy Program at University of Arizona College of Law. “It’s a very special day for us.”
The Arizona Telemedicine Program and its Southwest Telehealth Resource Center were recognized by the United States Distance Learning Association as a “Trendsetter in Distance Learning” at its 2023 National Conference in Orlando, Florida on Wednesday, July 19, 2023. Janet Major, Arizona Telemedicine Program and Southwest Telehealth Resource Center’s associate director for Innovation and Digital Health, received the award on behalf of the ATP and SWTRC.
The digital age has presented numerous benefits for a variety of economic sectors with the health industry among the biggest winners. From faster communication between patients and health professionals to better service delivery, health organizations have seen improvements in a variety of daily operations. Sadly, the digital age is a double-edged sword, and as more health organizations use the latest technology, there is the looming threat of poor data security.