OHIO'S RURAL HEALTH TRANSFORMATION PROJECT WILL IMPLEMENT INITIATIVES TO IMPROVE HEALTH FOR RURAL OHIOANS THROUGH INNOVATION, HEALTHCARE ACCESS, AND PREVENTION. - THE OHIO RURAL HEALTH TRANSFORMATION PROGRAM (RHTP) PRESENTS THIS PLAN TO STRENGTHEN HEALTHCARE ACCESS, OUTCOMES, AND WORKFORCE CAPACITY ACROSS OHIO’S 73 NON-URBAN COUNTIES. THE 4.4 MILLION RESIDENTS LIVING IN THESE RURAL COMMUNITIES ARE IMPACTED BY LIMITED ACCESS TO CARE, HOSPITAL CLOSURES, WORKFORCE SHORTAGES, AND HIGH RATES OF CHRONIC AND BEHAVIORAL HEALTH CONDITIONS. RURAL AND APPALACHIAN OHIOANS EXPERIENCE HIGHER RATES OF HEART DISEASE, DIABETES, COPD, CANCER, AND SUICIDE THAN STATE AVERAGES. THIRTEEN COUNTIES ARE MATERNITY CARE DESERTS, AND NEARLY ONE IN FIVE RURAL HOSPITALS IS AT RISK OF CLOSURE. PROVIDER SHORTAGES ARE WIDESPREAD: PRIMARY CARE AVAILABILITY IS NEARLY HALF THAT OF URBAN REGIONS, AND BEHAVIORAL AND ORAL HEALTH GAPS PERSIST. THESE CHALLENGES ARE COMPOUNDED BY LOWER EDUCATION LEVELS, HIGHER POVERTY, AND AN

Summary

OHIO'S RURAL HEALTH TRANSFORMATION PROJECT WILL IMPLEMENT INITIATIVES TO IMPROVE HEALTH FOR RURAL OHIOANS THROUGH INNOVATION, HEALTHCARE ACCESS, AND PREVENTION. - THE OHIO RURAL HEALTH TRANSFORMATION PROGRAM (RHTP) PRESENTS THIS PLAN TO STRENGTHEN HEALTHCARE ACCESS, OUTCOMES, AND WORKFORCE CAPACITY ACROSS OHIO’S 73 NON-URBAN COUNTIES. THE 4.4 MILLION RESIDENTS LIVING IN THESE RURAL COMMUNITIES ARE IMPACTED BY LIMITED ACCESS TO CARE, HOSPITAL CLOSURES, WORKFORCE SHORTAGES, AND HIGH RATES OF CHRONIC AND BEHAVIORAL HEALTH CONDITIONS. RURAL AND APPALACHIAN OHIOANS EXPERIENCE HIGHER RATES OF HEART DISEASE, DIABETES, COPD, CANCER, AND SUICIDE THAN STATE AVERAGES. THIRTEEN COUNTIES ARE MATERNITY CARE DESERTS, AND NEARLY ONE IN FIVE RURAL HOSPITALS IS AT RISK OF CLOSURE. PROVIDER SHORTAGES ARE WIDESPREAD: PRIMARY CARE AVAILABILITY IS NEARLY HALF THAT OF URBAN REGIONS, AND BEHAVIORAL AND ORAL HEALTH GAPS PERSIST. THESE CHALLENGES ARE COMPOUNDED BY LOWER EDUCATION LEVELS, HIGHER POVERTY, AND AN