The Colorado Department of Health Care Policy & Financing announced that Colorado Rural Health Center CEO Michelle Mills has been named chairperson of the Rural Health Transformation Program Advisory Committee. This committee will provide strategic direction and governance for a federal grant program leveraging over $1 billion during the 2026–2031 grant period. The program represents a significant investment in addressing systemic healthcare challenges across the state's most remote regions.
The advisory committee's responsibilities include ensuring rural stakeholder representation, advising on funding distribution priorities and grant application development, reviewing statewide program progress and performance data, and coordinating with technical workgroups. According to the department, "The RHTP Advisory Committee will serve as an essential advisory body in the development, implementation and governance of the RHTP." The committee's guidance will directly influence how these substantial federal resources are allocated to achieve maximum impact.
Colorado's successfully funded application will direct resources to all 52 rural and frontier counties and the two federally recognized tribes in the state. The Rural Health Transformation Program specifically targets critical healthcare gaps including access to specialty care, with particular emphasis on behavioral health and obstetric and gynecology services. The program also aims to address the chronic disease epidemic and meet the unique healthcare needs of Colorado's tribal communities. This work will be accomplished through fostering collaboration, innovation, and improved access to care across the state's rural landscape.
"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," said Mills. Her leadership role positions the Colorado Rural Health Center, established in 1991 as Colorado's State Office of Rural Health, at the forefront of this transformative initiative. The organization serves dual roles as both the State Office of Rural Health and the State Rural Health Association, with a mission to enhance healthcare services by providing information, education, linkages, tools, and energy toward addressing rural health issues.
The full advisory committee includes diverse representation from across Colorado's healthcare landscape. Members include 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. This comprehensive committee composition ensures multiple perspectives will inform the program's implementation across different regions and healthcare sectors.
The program's importance stems from its potential to address longstanding disparities in healthcare access and outcomes between urban and rural Colorado. With rural communities often facing provider shortages, limited specialty care options, and higher rates of chronic conditions, this substantial federal investment could help bridge critical gaps in the healthcare system. The advisory committee's work will determine how effectively these resources translate into tangible improvements for rural residents, potentially serving as a model for other states facing similar challenges. More information about the Colorado Rural Health Center is available at https://www.coruralhealth.org.
