The Agency for Health Care Administration (AHCA) is hosting a series of town hall meetings and webinars in December to discuss the Rural Health Transformation Program (RHTP). These sessions offer an important opportunity to hear directly from AHCA leadership, learn more about the multi-year federal transformation grant, and participate in an open question-and-answer discussion.

Background

Earlier this year, HCAF submitted formal comments to AHCA on Florida’s RHTP application, established by the One Big Beautiful Bill Act signed into law on July 4, 2025. Administered by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), the program is designed to strengthen rural health outcomes through innovative care models, technology adoption, and workforce investments.

Congress allocated $50 billion over five years for the RHTP. Half of the funding will be distributed evenly among states with approved applications, while the remaining half will be allocated based on rural population size and need. States will receive a total of $5 billion annually from Fiscal Year (FY) 2026–2030, with each state guaranteed at least $100 million, provided their application is approved.

Home health professionals are encouraged to participate in these sessions as Florida finalizes its strategy to improve rural health care access and outcomes. HCAF’s policy team will also be in attendance to advocate on behalf of rural home health providers throughout the town hall discussions.

Florida RHTP Town Hall Schedule

Thursday, December 4 at 2:30 PM ET
Suwannee County
Good Samaritan Center
10676 Marvin Jones Boulevard
Live Oak, FL 32060

Friday, December 5 at 11:00 AM ET
Franklin County
George E. Weems Memorial Hospital
135 Avenue G
Apalachicola, FL 32320

Friday, December 5 at 2:00 PM CT
Jackson County
Jackson Hospital
4250 Hospital Drive
Marianna, FL 32446

Monday, December 8 at 3:00 PM ET
Okeechobee County
Okeechobee Healthcare Facility
1646 US Highway 441
Okeechobee, FL 34972

Monday, December 15 at 3:00 PM ET
Hendry County
Hendry Regional Medical Center
524 West Sagamore Avenue
Clewiston, FL 33440

Additionally, AHCA will host webinars on Thursday, December 11 at 3:00 PM ET and Friday, December 19 at 12:00 PM ET, with registration links to be provided soon.

Why Attend?

These town halls and webinars are designed for leaders and teams across the rural health landscape, including:

• Rural hospitals, Critical Access Hospitals, and emergency departments
• Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs), rural health clinics, and county health departments
• Emergency medical services (EMS) providers, community paramedicine programs, and behavioral health organizations
• Nursing homes, assisted living facilities, and long-term care providers
• Local governments, county commissions, and academic institutions
• Workforce boards, broadband partners, telehealth vendors, community organizations, and advocacy groups

Together, AHCA and stakeholders will:

• Provide an overview of the RHTP and upcoming funding opportunities
• Discuss the initiative bundles and how they can strengthen care delivery
• Share details on application readiness, partnerships, and technical assistance
• Hear directly from participants on local priorities, challenges, and opportunities

This program has the potential to significantly improve access, workforce stability, technology, and community partnerships across rural Florida. Provider input will help shape Florida’s implementation strategy and ensure that home-based care remains central to the state’s rural health transformation.

For more information, please email Kyle Simon, Senior Director of Policy, Advocacy, and Communications, at ksimon@homecarefla.org.