Oklahoma Rise 25 in 25: RHTP Forum

RHTP Funded Consumer-Facing Technology to Empower Rural Oklahoma Digital Health Journey

Welcome to the Oklahoma RISE 25 and 25 RHTP podcast. In this episode Dr. Booth and guests from the Oklahoma RISE 25 and the Oklahoma State Department of Health (OSDH) take a deep dive into the Consumer‑Facing Technology for Chronic Disease Prevention and Management and Behavioral Health Initiative — a nearly $16 million, five‑year effort to meet rural Oklahomans where they already are: on their phones.
We explain the initiative’s strategic placement within the RHTP “moving upstream” pillar, and how the program’s core mission—the billable service sustainability model—requires rigorous, independently validated ROI within five years so successful pilots can be transitioned to permanent payer coverage. The episode covers the budget ($15,950,000 across FY2026–FY2030), OSDH’s administrative role, and the disciplined, phased timeline that leads to payer engagement in FY2030 and possible regulatory pathways in FY2031.
Listeners will learn how the technology works in practice: app‑based conversational AI assistants that deliver personalized coaching, micro‑interventions, automated reminders, gamification, and tangible incentives; tightly filtered clinical alerts that trigger community health workers (CHWs) or providers; and integration with chronic disease management curricula, the statewide community care referral platform for SDOH, and the health information exchange (HIE) for population analytics.
The episode focuses on three priority populations—maternal health (prenatal/postnatal care and postpartum depression screening), behavioral health (CBT‑informed digital coaching, PHQ‑9 screening and crisis triage), and aging dual‑eligible patients with complex chronic needs—and explains why these groups offer both urgent need and high potential ROI. We discuss concrete performance targets (notably a 25% DAU/MAU stickiness goal and alert thresholds of ~5–10% readings triggering risk alerts with only 1–3% requiring immediate human action) and the technical, cultural, and workforce measures planned to reach them.
The episode also outlines governance and execution: the essential advisory council with rural residents and lived‑experience representation, OSDH’s requirement for a dedicated project manager (1.0 FTE) to run procurement and evaluation, and the front‑loaded investment in technical assistance and RFP development to avoid premature, ineffective buys. You’ll hear about the independent evaluation requirement that will quantify cost avoidance (hospitalizations, ER visits, complications) and the sequencing risk if pilots are rushed or adoption is low.
We finish by laying out the five critical success factors: authentic community engagement, achieving the 25% stickiness target, successful provider/CHW integration and workflow redesign, independent ROI demonstration, and effective payer engagement to secure sustainable coverage. The episode leaves stakeholders with clear near‑term priorities for FY2026: form the advisory council, complete needs assessments, design robust RFPs, and focus recruitment and training so the program can prove its case and avoid the five‑year cliff.
Listeners are invited to join the Oklahoma Rise 25 in 25 RHTP Task Force at Rise25in25.org or email info@rise25in25.org for more information.The Oklahoma Rise 25 and 25 RHTP Forum is produced and directed by Dr. Keley John Booth, MD.

Community Health Worker Expansion for Hospitals: A Helping Hand Within Rural Communities

Welcome to the Oklahoma Rise 25 and 25 RHTP podcast. In this episode we take a deep dive into the Community Health Worker (CHW) Expansion in Hospitals Initiative — a five-year, $10.8 million Rural Health Transformation Program investment designed to hire, train, and deploy 30 hospital-based CHWs across rural Oklahoma.
You hosts conferred with RHTP Task Force experts and policy strategists to unpack why this program is far more than a staffing grant: it is a proof-of-concept designed to generate auditable, payer-ready ROI that will enable long-term Medicaid and commercial reimbursement. We walk through the lead agency role of the Oklahoma Health Care Authority (OHCA), the uncompensated care fund reimbursement model ($69,000 per CHW per year), and the FY2026–FY2030 timeline and stage-based milestones.
Topics covered include the operational design (hospital and ED embedding, recruitment of local CHWs, rigorous training, and mandatory caseloads), the four core program components (recruiting and training, hiring and deployment, defined hospital settings, and monitoring/reporting), and the mandated service focus areas: behavioral health referrals, housing and social determinant screening, and nutrition/food security connections.
The episode explains the critical data and infrastructure dependencies — the Community Care Referral Platform, the consumer-facing monitoring tools, and the Building Health Data Utility (HIE) — and how CHWs act as the human agents who convert data alerts into real-world interventions. We highlight cross-pillar linkages with Clinical Integration Networks, community paramedicine, and chronic disease management programs that are essential for closing referral loops and validating outcomes.
Key performance targets and accountability requirements are discussed in detail: a 10% reduction in readmissions among multi-visit patients by years three to five, a phased utilization requirement (50% in years 1–2 rising to 100% in years 3–5), and mandatory, high-quality outcome tracking to support a State Plan Amendment (SPA) for Medicaid coverage. The episode draws on comparable evidence from Arkansas (significant Medicaid savings via HCBS diversion) and Texas (ED-based CHW reductions in ED visits) to model the expected ROI.
We also examine the major execution risks — hospital partner readiness and administrative capacity, CHW quality and training, reliable data collection and HIE interoperability, and proactive payer engagement — and the two immediate FY2026 priorities: OHCA’s rigorous selection of priority hospitals and activation of the uncompensated care fund to enable on-time recruitment and deployment.
Listeners will gain actionable insight into what hospital leaders, policymakers, and community stakeholders must do to translate $10.8 million into sustainable system change: treat the CHW not as a temporary hire but as the central node of an upstream prevention model, build the data pipeline to demonstrate auditable savings, and engage payers early to secure permanent reimbursement. This episode frames the CHW expansion as a potential turning point for rural Oklahoma’s financial and clinical stability — if execution matches the ambition.
Listeners are invited to join the Oklahoma Rise 25 in 25 RHTP Task Force at Rise25in25.org or email info@rise25in25.org for more information.The Oklahoma Rise 25 and 25 RHTP Forum is produced and directed by Dr. Keley John Booth, MD.

Oklahoma RHTP Talent Growth: Building Rural Residency Pipelines for Surgery, Psychiatry & Obstetrics

This episode takes a deep dive into the Rural Residency Programs Initiative — a strategic $54.98 million, five‑year investment led by the Oklahoma State Department of Health (OSDH) to establish six new rural residency programs in three high‑need specialties: surgery, psychiatry, and obstetrics & gynecology (OB‑GYN).
The conversation covers the evidence base driving the strategy (physicians who train in rural settings are roughly three times more likely to remain and practice there), the program’s precise objectives, and how funding will be allocated to overcome structural barriers such as ACGME accreditation costs, curriculum development, faculty/preceptor support, resident stipends and housing, and essential administrative systems. The episode explains the $52.78M operational and $2.2M technical assistance budget split and the stair‑step funding logic that supports multi‑year residency cohorts.
Guests and contributors include OSDH program leaders, technical assistance and evaluation partners, representatives from state medical schools and academic medical centers, and rural hospital stakeholders. Key roles and responsibilities are unpacked — from the lead role of OSDH and competitively procured TA vendors to the vital hub‑and‑spoke partnership with AMCs, state medical schools, FQHCs and rural hospitals that will enable accreditation and high‑quality training.
The episode details operational design elements — rural‑focused curricula, accreditation navigation, faculty development, telehealth integration, and ties to other RHTP initiatives (EHR/HIE interoperability, Clinically Integrated Networks, HWTC relocation incentives, and Grow‑Your‑Own pipelines). It emphasizes two hard deadlines: ACGME curriculum finalization and approval by Q2 FY27 and the launch of the first cohort in Q4 FY27, plus the overarching FY26–FY31 staging plan.
Listeners will hear about success metrics and risks: the primary near‑term metric is establishing six programs and tracking available residency positions, while long‑term success is measured by improved rural provider‑to‑population ratios in the target specialties. Critical failure points include lack of early engagement from state medical schools and AMCs, insufficient rural host capacity, delayed ACGME approval, and failure to recruit residents. The episode also addresses sustainability strategies — state GME appropriation integration, health system cost‑sharing, and philanthropic support — and how stable residency pipelines can reduce costly locum reliance and improve rural hospital solvency.
Practical takeaways include an urgent call to action for medical schools, AMCs, and rural health systems to begin immediate partnership planning, faculty identification, and administrative readiness work so Oklahoma can meet the tight accreditation and launch timeline and capture the long‑term 3x retention advantage that will improve maternal health, behavioral health access, and surgical capacity across rural counties.Listeners are invited to join the Oklahoma Rise 25 in 25 RHTP Task Force at Rise25in25.org or email info@rise25in25.org for more information.The Oklahoma Rise 25 and 25 RHTP Forum is produced and directed by Dr. Keley John Booth, MD.

Oklahoma RHTP Care Expansion Through Community Paramedicine Workforce Development

Welcome to the Oklahoma Rise 25 and 25 RHTP podcast. In this episode we take a deep operational dive into the Expanding Care Community Paramedicine (CP) Initiative — a $31,475,000, five-year investment aimed at transforming rural access to care across 59 Oklahoma counties.
Hosts unpack the initiative's design and goals: rapidly scale a new community paramedicine workforce (training 60+ CPs per year to create 300+ practitioners), deploy 25 dedicated mobile CP vehicles, and demonstrate measurable reductions in emergency department use and hospital readmissions. We explain the two core CP service streams — treat-in-place emergency assessments and proactive, scheduled chronic-disease management and post-discharge follow-up — and how these translate into patient, hospital, and payer savings.
The episode reviews the program’s financing and accountability architecture, including the $25 million uncompensated care fund intended to reimburse providers up to $200 per visit (targeting roughly 25,000 visits per year) as a bridge to permanent Medicaid and commercial reimbursement. Listeners will hear why meticulous data collection, standardized EHR documentation, and an evidence-driven demonstration to secure a state plan amendment (SPA) by Q2 FY2031 are non-negotiable for long-term sustainability.
We walk through critical timelines and milestones — notably the first RHTP-funded training cohort scheduled for Q4 FY2026 and SPA submission in Q2 FY2031 — and explain execution risks: procurement and timing delays, administrative burden on small rural EMS employers, and the catastrophic consequences of failing to meet data compliance standards. The podcast highlights mitigating strategies, including front-loaded technical assistance funding and university-led evaluation partnerships.
The conversation situates CP within the larger RHTP ecosystem, outlining dependencies on EMS centralization (dispatch and resource optimization), HIE interoperability and EHR expansion (real-time patient data and documentation), the statewide technology cooperative (telehealth and remote monitoring), and complementary programs like transportation expansion and PACE. The episode also emphasizes the necessity of meaningful coordination with tribal health systems and respect for tribal sovereignty.
Who benefits? The episode identifies 1.58 million rural residents in targeted counties — especially older adults, people with chronic conditions, and recently discharged patients — while describing how rural hospitals, EMS systems, and the broader health economy stand to gain from reduced ED strain and improved care continuity.
Listeners will leave with clear, practical takeaways: the CP initiative is a strategic, data-driven attempt to convert short-term public investment into a permanent billable service; the immediate execution window (2026–2027) is mission-critical; and local leaders must prioritize data systems, workforce training, and interagency coordination to turn the blueprint into measurable, sustainable impact. Tune in for a rigorous, operationally focused roadmap on what it will take to make community paramedicine work across rural Oklahoma.Listeners are invited to join the Oklahoma Rise 25 in 25 RHTP Task Force at Rise25in25.org or email info@rise25in25.org for more information.The Oklahoma Rise 25 and 25 RHTP Forum is produced and directed by Dr. Keley John Booth, MD.

The Brain of Rural Health Reform: Inside Oklahoma RHTP's Integrated Data & Analytics Initiative

Welcome to the Oklahoma Rise 25 and 25 RHTP podcast. In this episode, we take a deep dive into the Integrated Data and Analytics Initiative — the central, mission-critical component of Oklahoma’s Rural Health Transformation Program (RHTP). The hosts walk listeners through the strategy, funding, and operational priorities behind this effort.
The conversation explains what the initiative is designed to do: transform MyHealth (the state HIE) from a passive data repository into an active decision engine. The episode outlines the $21.7 million allocation (FY2026–FY2030), the two headline targets — a 15% relative reduction in unaddressed care gaps by year five and at least 50% provider adoption of analytics tools by year five — and the statewide scope covering all 77 counties.
Listeners hear a breakdown of the initiative’s four program components: a statewide data roadmap and governance design, pilot dashboard use cases (maternal health, chronic disease, rural outcomes), procurement and deployment of analytics tools and dashboards, and the essential technical and data governance safeguards needed to protect privacy and trust. Practical pilot examples and dashboard use cases are described, including maternal RPM monitoring, smoking cessation tracking, mortality and public-health feed integration, and market-insight tools to reduce care leakage.
The episode grounds the initiative in Oklahoma’s urgent realities: extreme data fragmentation (up to 97% of rural health clinics currently disconnected), duplicate testing estimates up to 20%, seven recent rural hospital closures, and median CAH operating margins near negative 16%. It also highlights a major legal and technical challenge — Oklahoma’s opt-in consent requirement for behavioral and mental health data — and how that constraint must be solved through governance and user-centered value propositions.
We map the dependencies that make the analytics effort succeed (or fail): the $44.88M EHR expansion to generate usable structured data, the $29.21M HIE Interoperability investment to create reliable pipelines, and the larger RHTP investments (including $212M+ for clinically integrated networks) that will rely on the analytics outputs. The episode explains the phased, multi-vendor approach, the aggressive FY26–FY29 sequencing, and why early roadmap and vendor selection milestones (RFP in Q2 FY26; roadmap due Q4 FY26) are critical.
Long-term sustainability is covered in detail: how the plan intends to leverage the 90/10 Medicaid technology match and HIE subscriber revenue to maintain operations after RHDP funds wind down, and how measurable ROI — fewer duplicate tests, lower readmissions, improved prevention and care continuity — will translate into stabilized finances for rural hospitals and better patient outcomes.
Finally, the episode highlights execution risks (vendor selection and management, data quality and timing misalignment, provider adoption barriers, and consent/governance failures) and prescribes success factors: rigorous coordination with EHR and HIE timelines, representative stakeholder engagement in roadmap development, transparent governance to build trust, and user-centered dashboard design to drive adoption. The programmatic urgency is clear: early disciplined action across agencies and communities is required now to turn data connectivity into measurable rural impact by the sustainability transition in FY31.Listeners are invited to join the Oklahoma Rise 25 in 25 RHTP Task Force at Rise25in25.org or email info@rise25in25.org for more information.The Oklahoma Rise 25 and 25 RHTP Forum is produced and directed by Dr. Keley John Booth, MD.

Oklahoma RHTP's Plan to Improve and Centralize Emergency Medical Services Statewide

Welcome to the Oklahoma RISE 25 and 25 RHTP podcast. This episode takes a deep dive into the centralized EMS initiative—a $20.1 million, statewide investment designed to reshape regional collaboration and emergency response across rural Oklahoma.
In this episode, the hosts explain why fragmentation in emergency medical services is the core operational problem and why a single unified communications and logistics platform is central to the Rural Health Transformation Program’s facilitating regional collaboration pillar. Listeners will hear how the initiative is intended to give dispatchers “x-ray vision” over ambulances and response assets statewide, breaking down jurisdictional silos and enabling pooled resource management.
The episode sets the stakes with data: up to 50% of EMS capacity is occupied with non-emergency calls, rural residents average 80 minutes to comprehensive trauma care, only 13% live within 30 miles of a trauma center, 75 of 77 counties are HPSAs, seven rural hospital closures in the past decade, and roughly 30% of remaining rural hospitals face immediate risk. These facts power the argument that coordination, not just additional units, is the critical solution.
Listeners get a clear breakdown of where the $20.1M is allocated across three pillars: platform procurement (software, ruggedized hardware, data migration and licensing), technical assistance (training, change management, ongoing support), and central program support (OSDH staffing and operations to ensure long-term state ownership).
The show explains concrete operational mechanisms—real-time visibility of assets, pooled resource dispatching across counties and tribal jurisdictions, standardized data reporting and analytics, and public safety integration—and how these features interact with companion RHTP efforts like clinically integrated networks (CINs), community paramedicine, and the statewide health data utility (OKShine).
Critical assumptions and risks are discussed candidly: agencies must be willing to coordinate across historical boundaries (coordination readiness), legacy systems must integrate cleanly (data flow readiness), and widespread provider buy-in must be earned through clear, early demonstrations of benefit. The episode emphasizes that the money buys the tool, but local leaders must choose to use it cooperatively.
Execution realities focus on Oklahoma State Department of Health (OSDH) responsibilities: competitive procurement, vendor selection prioritizing rural deployment experience, and the single linchpin hire of a dedicated OSDH EMS staffer to manage the platform (required by Q1 FY27). Key timeline milestones covered include a single-region pilot (Q3 FY28) and planned statewide launch (Q3 FY29), with a transition to sustainable funding through the Oklahoma Trauma Fund by Q1 FY31.
The episode outlines measurable accountability targets and federal spending guardrails: a 6% absolute increase in patients receiving care within medical standard timelines (target in years 4–5), a 10% reduction in administrative reporting time by year five, and caps on spending categories (administration capped at 10%, infrastructure at 20%, direct provider payments at 15%).
Listeners are given concrete next steps: robust stakeholder engagement to finalize platform requirements in the current planning stage, prioritizing the on-time hire at OSDH, ensuring EHR and OKShine readiness for EMS data integration, and coordinating with Trauma Fund administrators on sustainability planning. The episode stresses that early, specific operational feedback from EMS directors, hospital administrators, and regional leaders is essential to designing a platform that works in Oklahoma’s diverse rural contexts.
Ultimately, the episode frames centralized EMS as foundational infrastructure—not a one-time grant—but a permanent systems transformation that, if executed well, will improve response times, stabilize provider finances, support community paramedicine, and produce measurable gains in access and quality for rural Oklahomans.Listeners are invited to join the Oklahoma Rise 25 in 25 RHTP Task Force at Rise25in25.org or email info@rise25in25.org for more information.The Oklahoma Rise 25 and 25 RHTP Forum is produced and directed by Dr. Keley John Booth, MD.

Oklahoma RHTP $15M Rural School Healthcare Delivery Site Development Plan

Welcome to the Oklahoma RISE 25 and 25 RHTP podcast. This podcast is a production of the Oklahoma RISE 25 and 25 RHTP Task Force, an independent Oklahoma-led collaborative focused on turning one of the most significant rural health investments in our state's history into real, measurable outcomes for our communities. This podcast moves beyond headlines and funding announcements to provide clear, practical insight into what the Rural Health Transformation Program means, how it works, and what successful execution will require across Oklahoma. At its core, this series reflects a belief that Oklahoma's health care future can be stronger, more accessible, and more sustainable, especially for rural and tribal communities when we focus on coordination, accountability, and solutions grounded in the realities of our state.
 
In this episode we launch into a crucial component of the Rural Health Transformation Program: the School-Based Health Services Support Initiative. Hosts and RHTP Task Force leaders walk listeners through the initiative's purpose, structure, and the high-stakes strategy behind converting schools into permanent, Medicaid-billable care delivery sites. We explain why the $15.16 million, five-year investment (about $3.03M per year from FY2026–FY2031) is intentionally structured as bridge financing to close the sustainability gap and prepare schools for an anticipated state plan amendment (SPA) that would expand Medicaid billing eligibility beyond students with IEPs.
 
The episode covers who is leading implementation (the Oklahoma State Department of Education as the subrecipient), the target scope (approximately 100 rural schools), and the two primary budget buckets: $1M/year for startup technical assistance (roughly $10,000 per school) and $2M/year for provider recruitment subsidies to stabilize about 24 clinical providers annually. We dive into the operational design—the competitive NOFO approach, the shared-FTE staffing models, and the critical technical assistance components required for Medicaid billing setup, provider credentialing, and clinical workflow optimization.
 
Listeners will hear a detailed timeline and phased roadmap (foundational activities in FY2026, awards and TA in FY2027, rolling service launches through FY2029, and a targeted self-sustaining transition by Q1 FY2031) and why sequencing matters: TA must be in place alongside provider recruitment and the SPA approval to avoid untenable local financial risk. The episode emphasizes the central policy dependency—the SPA led by OHCA and the federal CMS approval—and explains the risks if approval is delayed or reimbursement rates are insufficient.
 
We examine the rural access crisis the initiative aims to address—75 of 77 counties designated HPSAs, average travel times of 80 minutes for comprehensive care, hospital closures—and why schools are a strategic entry point, particularly for youth behavioral health. The discussion highlights synergies with other RHTP investments (the statewide technology cooperative and behavioral-health integration efforts), the need for integration with the Oklahoma HIE (OKSHINE), and how interoperable data flows will support quality care and accountability.
 
The episode also identifies top execution risks—limited administrative staffing (an approximate 0.2 FTE coordinator in the OSDE administrative budget), reliance on high-quality TA vendors, workforce recruitment challenges, and the critical need for rigorous claims documentation and monitoring. Performance metrics covered include the number of schools credentialed and actively billing, service types and visit volumes (with a behavioral health emphasis), and the requirement for tight bottom-up reporting to ensure compliance and prevent claim denials.
 
Finally, the hosts synthesize the strategic importance of the initiative: an equity-driven effort to reduce rural health disparities by creating sustainable local access points, stabilize and grow the rural clinical workforce, and build a replicable model of resilience for rural Oklahoma. The episode closes with a call to leaders to pursue dual-tracked action—expedite the SPA with OHCA and secure high-quality technical assistance—while planning contingencies for potential SPA delays or lower-than-expected Medicaid revenue to ensure the bridge to sustainability is durable.Listeners are invited to join the Oklahoma Rise 25 in 25 RHTP Task Force at Rise25in25.org or email info@rise25in25.org for more information.The Oklahoma Rise 25 and 25 RHTP Forum is produced and directed by Dr. Keley John Booth, MD.

Oklahoma RHTP Rural Healthcare Transportation Expansion Initiative

Welcome to the Oklahoma RISE 25 and 25 RHTP podcast. In this episode, the hosts lead a focused, operational conversation about the Transportation Expansion Initiative—the $10,818,000, five‑year investment designed to be the foundational enabler of Oklahoma’s Rural Health Transformation Program (RHTP).
We unpack why transportation is not a logistics afterthought but the access layer that determines whether all other RHTP investments—telehealth, workforce development, data interoperability, and value‑based care—actually reach patients. The episode explains how the initiative is strategically placed under the care‑model innovation pillar and why solving rides to appointments is essential to reducing preventable emergency care and stabilizing fragile rural hospitals.
Key stakeholders discussed include representatives from state and regional partners who will carry the work forward: the Oklahoma Association of Regional Councils and the Oklahoma Department of Transportation. The episode also draws on lessons from a successful Southwest Oklahoma pilot model and explains how that pilot will be scaled statewide.
Key program elements are described in detail: a low‑bandwidth ride dispatch and scheduling platform built for rural connectivity; regional mobility navigators (starting with two in year one and expanding to eight by year five) to coordinate complex cases; a volunteer driver program targeted to reach 150 volunteers in year two and 300 by year five (with $350 per volunteer training and a 60%+ retention target); and an up‑front fleet purchase ($2,050,000 for 15 vans and five cutaway vehicles) paired with ongoing platform and operations funding.
The episode walks through timelines and governance milestones listeners need to watch: standing up an interagency working group in Q2 FY26, finishing and refining the Southwest pilot by Q3 FY26, phased regional rollout with statewide coverage aimed for Q3 FY28, and critical legal and funding commitments (the cross‑agency MOU and braided funding plan) that must be secured well before federal grant sunsets.
Listeners will hear the measurable goals and the top risks: the North Star metric of a 20% increase in preventive care visit completions in served communities, and the three execution failure points—volunteer recruitment and retention, low‑bandwidth technology reliability, and the complexity of weaving Medicaid, federal transit, VA, tribal, and hospital dollars into a sustainable braided funding model. The episode also highlights stark local context: 75 of 77 counties are designated health professional shortage areas, rural patients often travel up to 50 miles for care, and many critical access hospitals operate with deeply negative margins.
Finally, the episode closes with an action agenda for leaders: prioritize early governance discipline, invest in volunteer support and tech usability, and get legal funding agreements in place early. This conversation shows how a $10.8M targeted investment in transportation functions as an insurance policy for the hundreds of millions invested across RHTP—turning federal dollars into durable, practical access that improves outcomes and strengthens rural hospital finances.Listeners are invited to join the Oklahoma Rise 25 in 25 RHTP Task Force at Rise25in25.org or email info@rise25in25.org for more information.The Oklahoma Rise 25 and 25 RHTP Forum is produced and directed by Dr. Keley John Booth, MD.

Two Hundred Oklahoma RHTP $50K Microgrants Aim to Transform Rural Oklahoma Health

Welcome to the Oklahoma Rise 25 in 25 RHTP podcast. This episode takes a deep dive the Community-Led Wellness Hub microgrants. We unpack the program’s purpose, funding structure, eligibility, and how this targeted capital aims to solve a specific market failure in rural Oklahoma.
Topics covered include the initiative’s budget and timeline ($10.75 million total: $10 million in direct microgrants spread as $2 million per year for five years, plus a one-time $750,000 technical assistance investment in FY26), the $50,000 per-grant cap, and the competitive Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) model managed by OSDH. The episode explains who can apply, allowable uses (durable prevention assets such as diagnostic equipment, fitness infrastructure, kitchens for nutrition education, and community garden infrastructure), and the program’s focus on the 59 rural counties and local health departments.
Key program design features and requirements are emphasized: rigorous, data-driven applications demonstrating unmet local need; strict limits to capital purchases (no salaries or ongoing operational costs); mandatory community commitment to ongoing maintenance and sustainability; integration with other RHTP pillars (chronic disease prevention, community health worker expansion, GradesLoop resource listing, and health information exchange/data utility); and the expectation of roughly 40 grants per year (about 200 total over five years).
The hosts discuss critical execution issues and risks — the need for high-quality technical assistance to design the NOFO and outcome-tracking frameworks, the danger of “ghost assets” when communities can’t sustain maintenance costs, outreach and equity challenges across geographically dispersed counties, and the importance of building data and reporting capacity from day one to demonstrate impact by 2031. Practical accountability steps for grantees and OSDH are described, including rigorous documentation, annual usage and outcome reporting, and the 25% reporting threshold as an early program stress test.
Listeners will learn how this initiative is intended to function as the capital engine for upstream prevention work in rural Oklahoma — multiplying the impact of larger service investments by providing permanent local assets — and what community leaders must demonstrate to turn a one-time grant into a long-lasting, measurable improvement in health access and outcomes. Expect a clear explanation of the policy rationale, program mechanics, implementation timeline, cross-pillar dependencies, and the measure of success: whether these assets remain operational, used, and improving health metrics years after deployment.Listeners are invited to join the Oklahoma Rise 25 in 25 RHTP Task Force at Rise25in25.org or email info@rise25in25.org for more information.The Oklahoma Rise 25 and 25 RHTP Forum is produced and directed by Dr. Keley John Booth, MD.

Moving Upstream: Oklahoma RHTP $10.5M Plan to Save Lives with Lung Cancer Screening Program

Welcome to the Oklahoma Rise 25 RHTP podcast. In this episode we undertake a deep dive into the comprehensive profile for Oklahoma’s Lung Cancer Screening Program — a $10.5 million, six‑year initiative (FY2026–FY2031) positioned inside the RHTP "moving upstream" pillar to prioritize prevention, early detection, and sustainable rural access.
Topics covered: why lung cancer is an urgent priority in Oklahoma (state incidence 63.7/100,000 vs. national 53.6), the state’s low early diagnosis rate (23.4%) and screening gap (only ~9% of eligible high‑risk people screened), and the program’s dual focus on evidence‑based LDCT screening and integrated tobacco cessation.
Key program design features explained: a multi‑site rollout across 11 rural and regional health systems; embedded clinical program directors (APPs/PAs/NPs) in each site to run clinical operations, navigation, and billing; one‑time capital purchases for mobile LDCT units; and mandatory linkage to comprehensive tobacco cessation services.
Financial and sustainability approach: RHTP funds are framed as transformation capital to build billable services — with an explicit requirement that built infrastructure, workforce, and billing systems transition to Medicaid, Medicare and commercial reimbursement before RHTP funds sunset. The podcast details personnel, statewide program management, and billing build‑out as central funded components.
Systems dependencies and risk: the episode walks through critical cross‑pillar needs — functioning EHR expansion, HIE interoperability, and data analytics — that are essential for quality tracking, registry reporting, and proving value. Major execution risks discussed include workforce retention, achieving sufficient screening volume, and Medicaid coverage stability, and the mitigation strategies needed to address them.
Timeline and milestones: listener guidance on sequencing — planning and site selection beginning Q2 FY2026, director placement by Q4 FY2026, clinical launch tied to billing readiness in Q4 FY2027, reporting into the Central Cancer Registry starting Q3 FY2028, and the final sustainability transition by FY2031 — with commentary on why early administrative and data work are the decisive early moves.
Equity and partnerships: the episode emphasizes tribal and community engagement, the role of community health workers and consumer technology for outreach and navigation, and the need for culturally competent, sovereignty‑respecting partnerships to ensure access across rural and tribal Oklahoma.
What listeners should expect: a practical, operationally focused conversation about turning a large rural health investment into durable outcomes — how the program will be run, who will lead it locally, what success will look like (measurable improvements in early diagnosis rates), and the precise set of policy, billing, data, and workforce conditions required to make this a permanent, billable rural health service.Listeners are invited to join the Oklahoma Rise 25 in 25 RHTP Task Force at Rise25in25.org or email info@rise25in25.org for more information.The Oklahoma Rise 25 and 25 RHTP Forum is produced and directed by Dr. Keley John Booth, MD.