Kelly, Gallego, Ciscomani, Ansari, Stanton Urge HHS to Ensure Arizona Receives Full Funding Through the Rural Health Transformation Program
Arizona Senators Mark Kelly and Ruben Gallego, along with Representatives Juan Ciscomani (R-AZ-06), Yassamin Ansari (D-AZ-03), and Greg Stanton (D-AZ-04), urged Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) administrator Mehmet Oz to make sure Arizona receives its fair share of funding under the new Rural Health Transformation Program (RHTP) to address long-standing health care challenges in rural communities across the state.
Arizona is one of the most rural states in the country, with a population density averaging eight people per square mile. Seven of Arizona’s fifteen counties are classified as 100 percent rural, and every county contains census tracts that meet the federal definition of rural. The lawmakers stressed that these factors – combined with the state’s size, mountainous terrain, and remote Tribal lands create significant barriers to accessing health care and other basic services.
In their letter, the lawmakers highlighted the unique challenges facing rural and Tribal communities and called for at least $200 million per year over five years to support Arizona’s participation in the program: “Arizona is vast and contains mountainous regions, forests, and sweeping deserts. The rugged terrain can make it difficult for some Arizonans to travel even short distances for healthcare. Roughly 27 percent of the state’s land area is Tribal land; Arizona is home to 22 federally recognized Tribes. Many of the Tribal lands are remote. For example, the Havasupai Tribe’s land is located at the bottom of the Grand Canyon.”
They noted that economic and social factors compound these barriers, making healthcare access even more difficult for rural Arizonans: “Our rural populations face many challenges, including access to healthcare—but also access to affordable childcare, housing, and career and educational opportunities. Their incomes are lower, and they have higher rates of unemployment. These issues compound their healthcare challenges.”
The lawmakers underscored that Arizona’s needs are not accurately reflected in national rankings and urged HHS to provide equitable funding that meets the state’s realities: “The healthcare needs of our rural communities are great, and it is critically important to us that Arizona gets its fair share of Rural Health Transformation Program dollars. An assessment conducted by the University of North Carolina resulted in a finding that Arizona ranked number 36 among the 50 states when ranked according to the criteria in the RHTP Notice of Funding Opportunity. This is not reflective of Arizona’s landscape and reality. Given the vast area, significant needs of the State, and rurality of so many Arizonans, Arizona should receive much more than $200 million per year to adequately address these needs.”
Read the full letter here.
