Transforming Rural Healthcare
Rural communities bring deep local knowledge, trusted institutions, and a strong commitment to collective well‑being—assets that support addressing complex health issues and drive sustainable improvement. Despite these strengths, rural communities continue to face significant health-related challenges due to rising healthcare costs, higher rates of chronic disease, workforce shortages, hospital and service closures, geographic infrastructure, and fragmented systems that strain patients, caregivers, and providers alike.
Partnering with States to Create Healthier Communities
The Rural Health Transformation Program (RHTP) presents an important opportunity for states to strengthen rural health systems, improve access to care, and create sustainable models to drive innovation and transform rural health care delivery. Successfully participating in this $50 billion federal investment requires more than a strategic plan. States must balance federal priorities, local needs, operational realities, and long-term sustainability.
AIR has a long history of partnering with federal, state and local partners to move from policy design and funding strategy to implementation, evaluation, and continuous improvement. Our experience supporting the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) and state health transformation initiatives provides a unique perspective on translating federal priorities into practical, sustainable solutions for rural communities.
Through deep expertise in rural health policy, financing, workforce development, program monitoring, performance and quality measurement, and capacity building, stakeholder engagement, and implementation support, AIR helps partners achieve meaningful results.
Christal Ramos
Managing Director
Rural health challenges are best addressed when solutions are shaped by the people and communities they are intended to serve. By working closely with states, providers, and local leaders, we can strengthen community well-being and generate evidence that supports informed decisions about access, cost, quality, and health outcomes.
Christal Ramos
Managing Director
We support making strides by aligning our work with key CMS priorities of the RHTP.
- Making rural America healthy again by advancing rural health innovations (such as the MAHA Elevate model) and expanding access to care that promotes preventative health to address the root causes of diseases in key areas (chronic disease, maternal and child health, and behavioral health). We evaluated the Rural Community Health Demonstration, providing insights into how payment and delivery system reforms can improve care and strengthen rural healthcare systems.
- Creating sustainable access by improving efficiency, strengthening rural healthcare infrastructure, and expanding access to essential services. AIR supports efforts to expand access to opioid use disorder treatment in rural areas through research, evaluation, and evidence-based recommendations that informed strategies for improving care.
- Strengthening workforce development by leading research, evaluation, and technical assistance efforts focused on provider recruitment, retention, training, and workforce planning. This includes improving system-wide stakeholder coordination in rural provider networks. For the impact of Primary Care Health Professional Shortage Area programs, we helped policymakers understand how workforce investments can improve access to care in underserved communities.
- Advancing innovative care models by improving outcomes, strengthening care coordination, and supporting flexible approaches to service delivery. AIR supports the Innovation in Behavioral Health (IBH) Model, an initiative designed to provide integrated, coordinated care for Medicare and Medicaid beneficiaries. Additional capabilities include assessing hospital financing and supplemental payment strategies through value-based care and cost-saving payment models.
- Boosting technology innovation by promoting health IT and interoperability (including HITECH technical assistance) through data modernization, digital health tools, telehealth, and interoperable systems that improve care delivery and decision-making. AIR tracked and analyzed performance data for about 160 rural hospitals to identify support needs.
Combining Rigorous Analysis with Practical Implementation
AIR's rural health work demonstrates how evidence and implementation expertise can help policymakers make informed decisions, strengthen healthcare systems, and improve care for rural communities. AIR doesn't just identify what works. We help partners apply evidence in real-world settings to strengthen systems, improve operations, meet compliance requirements, and achieve measurable results.
Through rigorous research and practical application, AIR helps people, organizations, and systems understand which programs and policies work and translate that evidence into action.
