The Joint Subcommittee on Human Services on Nov. 17 voted by voice to approve the Legislative Fiscal Office recommendation to retroactively allow the Oregon Health Authority (OHA) to submit an application to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services for the Rural Health Transformation Program. OHA sought authority to pursue up to $1,000,000,000 over five years to support rural communities’ efforts to improve health care access, quality and outcomes.

Claire Pierce Rolbel, director of health policy and analytics at OHA, told the committee the program was established by HR1 and carries $50 billion in total federal funding. "Half of that federal funding will be split evenly among approved states," she said, noting Oregon’s share would depend on how many states apply and on technical and rural‑factor scoring. OHA submitted an application this month that budgeted roughly $200 million per year but expects the awarded amount to be lower once federal scoring is applied.

Rolbel outlined five initiative areas included in the application: regional partnerships and transformation (hub‑and‑spoke models and shared infrastructure), healthy communities and prevention (including telehealth expansion), workforce investments for rural providers, technology and data modernization, and a tribal initiative directed by Oregon’s federally recognized tribes. She said OHA conducted public engagement — including surveys, public forums and tribal consultation — during development and adapted the application as CMS issued FAQs.

OHA described its administration plan as emphasizing oversight, regular reporting and technical assistance to subawardees; the cooperative agreement allows CMS to evaluate compliance and adjust funding across later years. Rolbel said OHA expects CMS to issue notice of award by Dec. 31, the statutory deadline, which would create a compressed window for obligating year‑one funds.

Jason Tremblay of the Department of Administrative Services’ Chief Financial Office recommended approval. The Legislative Fiscal Office also recommended retroactive approval of the application to CMS. A committee member moved to approve the LFO recommendation; no objections were recorded and the motion was carried to the full committee.

The committee did not take a roll‑call vote on the application; the action recorded in the meeting is a voice approval to carry the recommendation forward to the full committee.