JACKSON, Miss. (WJTV) – Gov. Tate Reeves (R-Miss.) announced Mississippi has submitted its Rural Health Transformation Program Plan to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.

The governor said the plan focuses on improving healthcare and patient outcomes for Mississippians, strengthening the state’s rural health workforce, and ensuring sustainable access to care.

When fully implemented, Reeves said the goal of the plan is to ensure that by 2031, every rural Mississippian will have reliable access to high-quality healthcare services, both in-person and through telehealth.

“The Rural Health Transformation Program is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to make a lasting impact on the health of our rural communities,” the governor said. “While Mississippi has long faced challenges in delivering access to quality healthcare in rural areas, our plan is designed to address those challenges head-on. We are ready to implement our plan with accountability, transparency, and results-driven oversight.”

The Office of the Governor will lead the oversight and coordination of the program. It will work closely with the Mississippi State Department of Health (MSDH), which houses the State Office of Rural Health, and the Mississippi Division of Medicaid, a division of the Office of the Governor.

Mississippi’s plan is broken into six initiatives:

• Statewide Rural Health Assessment: Mississippi will engage a third-party to conduct a comprehensive statewide assessment of rural healthcare needs, both today and looking forward ten years.
• The Coordinated Regional Integrated Systems Initiative: This initiative is designed to transform rural healthcare delivery across the state by creating a connected, data-driven network of emergency, clinical and community-based services.
• The Workforce Expansion Initiative: This initiative is designed to strengthen the healthcare workforce in rural areas, improving access, continuity, and quality of care. Through targeted programs, the initiative addresses recruitment, retention, training, and career pathway development for all healthcare professionals.
• The Health Technology Advancement and Modernization Initiative: This initiative is designed to modernize rural healthcare systems by strengthening the digital backbone that supports high-quality, coordinated, and secure care.
• The Telehealth Adoption and Provider Support Initiative: This initiative is designed to strengthen rural healthcare by increasing virtual care access, supporting providers in adopting telehealth, and exploring innovative payment models. Investments will enhance connectivity, technology, and diagnostic tools to enable real-time remote care.
• The Building Rural Infrastructure for Delivery, Growth and Efficiency Initiative: This initiative is designed to strengthen rural healthcare infrastructure by improving access to specialized care, closing care gaps, and supporting innovative pilot programs that enhance healthcare delivery and improve outcomes. The initiative focuses on building physical, operational, and programmatic capacity to address unmet needs, improve care coordination and foster sustainable rural healthcare systems.