Contributor: Spencer (Richard) Schaefer, CTO, Lunar Analytics
Over 100 rural hospitals have closed in the last decade, leaving entire regions without essential care. The One Big Beautiful Bill’s $50 billion Rural Health Transformation Fund represents the most significant federal intervention in rural health in decades. This framework shows how to convert funding into lasting transformation, not temporary relief.
Learn how to influence the Rural Health Transformation Plan process before funding decisions are made. Form coalitions, compile readiness data, and submit impact statements that position your facility as a strategic partner, not just a recipient.
Identify the 3-5 investment areas that deliver both immediate operational relief and long-term competitive advantage. Make architecture decisions that support EMR modernization, cybersecurity, workforce development, and value-based contracting simultaneously.
Establish governance structures, audit processes, and reporting dashboards that satisfy CMS requirements while generating strategic intelligence. Turn compliance from defensive overhead into evidence of operational maturity that attracts future partnerships.
Implement real-time eligibility checks that reduce administrative burden by 40-60% while eliminating coverage gaps. Connect to Medicaid databases, vital records, and address verification services that make accuracy effortless and transparency automatic.
Deploy automated reminder systems, patient assistance programs, and predictive models that identify at-risk renewals. Transform redeterminations from paperwork chases into continuous engagement that protects coverage and strengthens community trust.
Position your hospital as a testbed for innovative payment models, telehealth ecosystems, and AI-driven population health. Participation in state pilots builds political capital, operational capability, and first access to expanded funding streams.
