Colorado Rural Health Center CEO to Lead Advisory Committee for $1 Billion Rural Health Transformation Program

The Colorado Rural Health Center (CRHC) CEO Michelle Mills was recently named the chairperson of the Rural Health Transformation Program (RHTP) Advisory Committee. According to the Colorado Department of Health Care Policy & Financing, the RHTP Advisory Committee will serve as an essential advisory body in the development, implementation and governance of the RHTP, leveraging over $1 billion in federal grants during the grant period (2026–2031). As part of this work, the Committee will provide strategic direction and guidance for the entire RHTP within the guidelines of this federal grant program, ensure rural stakeholder representation, advise on funding distribution priorities and grant application development, review statewide program progress and performance data, and coordinate with technical workgroups.

Colorado's successfully funded application to the federal program will fund work in all 52 rural and frontier counties and the two federally recognized tribes in Colorado. RHTP will address access to specialty care (including behavioral health and obstetric and gynecology services), the chronic disease epidemic, and the needs of Colorado's two tribes. The work will be accomplished through fostering collaboration, innovation, and access to care and the advisory council will be tasked with providing crucial direction and oversight of the program. Mills stated, "I am proud to be named Chair for this important committee. Together the committee will help make sure that these funds are spent to benefit rural communities and facilities in Colorado by providing funding to assist with rural innovation and sustainability."

The full committee is comprised of representatives from various health organizations and entities across Colorado, including Kari Snelson of Northeast Health Partners, Jania Arnoldi of Valley-Wide Health Systems, Camille Harding of Paragon Behavioral Health, Reuben Farnsworth of Delta County Ambulance District, Stephanie Sargent of Cedar Point Health LLC, Joni Reynolds of Gunnison County Health & Human Services, April Randle of Basin Clinic and Southwest Health Systems, Dannon Cox of the Colorado School of Public Health at the University of Northern Colorado, Lora Spradley as Citizen Liaison, Jack Devie as Certified Peer Specialist, Kevin Stansbury of Lincoln Health, Joe Theine of Southwest Health Systems, Konnie Martin of San Luis Valley Health, Stephanie Pugliese of the Office of eHealth Innovation, Ned Calonge of CDPHE, the BHA Commissioner or Delegate, and Cristen Bates of HCPF.

The Colorado Rural Health Center was established in 1991 as Colorado's State Office of Rural Health. As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit corporation, CRHC serves dual roles as the State Office of Rural Health and the State Rural Health Association. The organization's mission is to enhance healthcare services in the state by providing information, education, linkages, tools, and energy toward addressing rural health issues. CRHC's vision is to improve healthcare services available in rural communities to ensure that all rural Coloradans have access to comprehensive, affordable, high quality healthcare. For more information, visit www.coruralhealth.org.