With $50 billion flowing through the Rural Health Transformation Program (RHTP), healthcare leaders are questioning whether this marks short term stabilization or a real opportunity to redesign rural care. In this episode of PwC’s Next in Health, Glenn Hunzinger speaks with Thom Bales and Jill Olmstead about how states are deploying funds, how accountability is shaping execution, and what sustainable rural transformation could look like.

Discussion highlights:

Why the RHTP differs from prior relief efforts, with funding tied to measurable outcomes and accountability
How states are prioritizing workforce sustainability, value based care, and regional partnerships
The role of technology, telehealth, shared data infrastructure, and AI in expanding access and modernizing rural delivery models
What successful execution requires across governance, compliance, milestone tracking, and multi state coordination
Why provider engagement with state strategies and ecosystem collaboration will be critical to success
What durable rural transformation could look like over the next three to five years

Speakers:
Glenn Hunzinger, US Health Industries Leader, PwC
Thom Bales, US Health Services Advisory Leader, PwC
Jill Olmstead, Principal, Health Services, PwC

You can access the full report here: https://www.pwc.com/us/en/industries/health-industries/health-policy-and-intelligence-institute/ruralhealth.html

For more information, please visit us at: https://www.pwc.com/us/en/industries/health-industries/health-research-institute/next-in-health-podcast.html.