Colorado is directing $169,587,181 in RHTP grants to rural healthcare providers across the state. Through a highly competitive application process, 91 applicants and approximately 250 projects were selected to receive funding across 52 rural or frontier counties and three rural census tract counties.

Both Prowers Medical Center in Lamar as well as High Plains Community Health Care Center in Lamar are recipients of funding from the program, as stated below in separate press releases from each facility.

A complete list of Colorado Rural Health Transformation Program awardees and additional information about RHTP is available on the RHTP website.

About the Rural Health Transformation Program

The Rural Health Transformation Program (RHTP) is a five-year federal initiative administered by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) designed to strengthen healthcare access and improve health outcomes in rural and frontier communities. The program supports investments in workforce development, innovative care models, technology-enabled services, and health system sustainability. The program was authorized under Section 71401 of H.R. 1 (Public Law 119-21) to provide grants totaling $50 billion in federal funding nationwide from Federal Fiscal Year (FFY) 2026 through FFY 2030.

The funding is part of nearly $170 million in RHTP grants directed by the Colorado Department of Health Care Policy & Financing (HCPF) to rural healthcare providers across Colorado. Funded by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), these investments will help protect access to care and support better health outcomes in Colorado’s rural and frontier communities.

 

From the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services

Colorado’s award totals $200,105,604.17 for the first year of the program to support rural health transformation efforts across the state and is 100% funded by CMS. The contents of this release are those of Prowers Medical Center and High Plains Community Health Care Center and the Colorado Department of Health Care Policy & Financing and do not necessarily represent the official views of, nor an endorsement by CMS/HHS or the U.S. Government.

 

Prowers Medical Center Receives Rural Health Transformation Funding to Establish a Comprehensive Regional Wound Care Center

Prowers Medical Center has been awarded $776,457.58 through Colorado’s Rural Health Transformation Program (RHTP) to establish a comprehensive Regional Wound Care Center that will provide specialized wound prevention, treatment, and management services for patients throughout our rural service area.

Prowers Medical Center currently has one Registered Nurse and one Nurse Practitioner who are certified in wound care. While this expertise has allowed the organization to provide wound management services, existing space constraints and staffing limitations prevent the development of a comprehensive wound care program capable of meeting the growing needs of the region.

The proposed project will renovate and expand clinical space within the hospital, purchase specialized wound care equipment, support workforce development, and establish a dedicated outpatient wound care center focused on evidence-based treatment of chronic and complex wounds.

“RHTP funding will enable Prowers Medical Center to establish a sustainable Regional Wound Care Center that closes a critical healthcare gap in southeastern Colorado,” said Chief Executive Officer, Karen Bryant. “By building on our certified local expertise, we can meet the growing need for specialty wound care, strengthen our hospital, and improve health outcomes across the communities we serve.”

“This Wound Care Center will bring specialized care closer to home, helping our rural health patients heal faster, reduce the burden of travel and ensure clinical excellence is within reach for every patient who needs wound care; ultimately improving their quality of life,” said Terri Beckett, Clinic Practice Manager.

Nationally, the burden of chronic wounds continues to rise due to an aging population, increasing rates of diabetes, and increasing prevalence of obesity. These same trends are occurring throughout southeastern Colorado, creating an urgent need for local access to specialized wound care services. The Regional Wound Care Center will improve patient outcomes, reduce avoidable hospitalizations, decrease preventable amputations, and provide a sustainable specialty service that strengthens healthcare access across southeastern Colorado.

“RHTP funding is vital to establishing a comprehensive Regional Wound Care Center that builds on local clinical expertise, equips providers with the specialized technology and resources they need, and brings coordinated treatment closer to home. This investment will create an accessible community service for everyone who needs it—helping rural patients receive timely care, prevent avoidable complications and hospitalizations, and achieve better outcomes without traveling long distances,” said Dr. Richard K. Book, Chief of Staff at Prowers Medical Center.

 

High Plains Community Health Center Awarded $2,114,713 Through Colorado Rural Health Transformation Program – Funding will expand Access to Integrated Primary Care, Behavioral health, pediatric services, and launch a new Pediatric Dental Services across Southeast Colorado.

High Plains Community Health Center has been awarded $2,114,713 through Colorado’s Rural Health Transformation Program (RHTP) to strengthen healthcare access, expand the rural healthcare workforce, improve chronic disease management, and advance whole-person integrated care for residents of Southeast Colorado. Through partnerships with Prowers County Transit and Sparrow House, together we will tackle food inequality in our communities.

High Plains will use its RHTP award to improve access to integrated medical, behavioral health, dental, urgent care, and chronic disease management services throughout Southeast Colorado. The project focuses on serving residents of Prowers, Bent, Baca, and Kiowa counties, where provider shortages, long travel distances, and limited healthcare and specialist resources create significant barriers to care.

Funding will support workforce expansion, including additional medical providers, behavioral health providers, pediatric dental services, and nursing staff dedicated to chronic care management. High Plains will expand behavioral health integration, expand substance abuse treatments, expand care coordination services, and implement remote patient monitoring technologies to assist our patients manage conditions such as diabetes and hypertension.

The investment from HCPF comes at a critical time as access to care is becoming more critical. Recent provider losses in our community have increased demand for care and as High Plain’s CEO has mentioned several times on the radio, High Plains doesn’t have enough openings right now to provide the access patients need. Through this project, High Plains WILL improve appointment availability, reduce wait times, increase our capacity, and ensure residents can access our high-quality care by adding more primary care providers, behavioral health providers and pediatric providers.

“Access to healthcare should not depend on your zip code, or if you live in a rural or frontier community,” said Jeremy Carroll, Chief Executive Officer of High Plains. “This investment allows us to strengthen our workforce, expand services, improve access to care, and continue building an integrated model that addresses medical, dental, behavioral health, pediatrics, and chronic disease needs. . . all under one coordinated system. Most importantly, it helps ensure that rural residents can receive the right care, at the right time, right here, close to home.

Through this award, High Plains Community Health Center will:

• Expand Healthcare Access – recruit additional providers and increase patient capacity. We will start right away by bringing in a Locum while we are recruiting our permanent providers.
• Strengthen Behavioral Health & Substance Abuse — recruit additional providers to increase access to both behavioral health and substance abuse programs.
• Create Pediatric Dental Care — High Plains has never had a pediatric dentist. We are building 3 new ped’s dental operatories so we can keep our care local.
• Improve Chronic Disease Management — Implement Chronic Care Management and Remote Patient Monitoring programs for patients with diabetes, hypertension and other chronic conditions.