THE MASSACHUSETTS RURAL HEALTH TRANSFORMATION PROGRAM WILL CATALYZE TRANSFORMATIVE INVESTMENTSTHAT STRENGTHEN RURAL MA COMMUNITIES, ENABLING THEM TO THRIVE AND SUSTAIN IMPROVED HEALTH ANDWELL-BEING. - OF MA’S 351 JURISDICTIONS, 160 ARE DESIGNATED RURAL. REPRESENTING 57% OF THE STATE’S LAND MASS, SPARSELY POPULATED RURAL TOWNS HAVE A DENSITY OF 198 PEOPLE PER SQUARE MILE, COMPARED TO NON-RURAL COMMUNITIES (2,256 PEOPLE PER SQUARE MILE). THE TARGET POPULATION OF THIS PROJECT INCLUDES MA’S 700,000 RURAL RESIDENTS REPRESENTING 10% OF THE STATE’S POPULATION WHO EXPERIENCE PERSISTENT GAPS IN ACCESS TO ESSENTIAL HEALTH AND SOCIAL SERVICES. MA’S RURAL COMMUNITIES FACE SIGNIFICANT BARRIERS TO HEALTHCARE INCLUDING HIGHER UNINSURANCE RATES, GREATER RELIANCE ON PUBLIC INSURANCE, RISING CHRONIC DISEASE, BEHAVIORAL HEALTH, AND SUBSTANCE USE DISORDER BURDENS. CARE IS OFTEN DISTANT, WITH FEWER PRIMARY AND SPECIALTY CARE ACCESS POINTS, FRAGILE EMS, AND HEALTHCARE SYSTEMS STRAINED BY AGING INFRASTRUCTUR

Summary

THE MASSACHUSETTS RURAL HEALTH TRANSFORMATION PROGRAM WILL CATALYZE TRANSFORMATIVE INVESTMENTSTHAT STRENGTHEN RURAL MA COMMUNITIES, ENABLING THEM TO THRIVE AND SUSTAIN IMPROVED HEALTH ANDWELL-BEING. - OF MA’S 351 JURISDICTIONS, 160 ARE DESIGNATED RURAL. REPRESENTING 57% OF THE STATE’S LAND MASS, SPARSELY POPULATED RURAL TOWNS HAVE A DENSITY OF 198 PEOPLE PER SQUARE MILE, COMPARED TO NON-RURAL COMMUNITIES (2,256 PEOPLE PER SQUARE MILE). THE TARGET POPULATION OF THIS PROJECT INCLUDES MA’S 700,000 RURAL RESIDENTS REPRESENTING 10% OF THE STATE’S POPULATION WHO EXPERIENCE PERSISTENT GAPS IN ACCESS TO ESSENTIAL HEALTH AND SOCIAL SERVICES. MA’S RURAL COMMUNITIES FACE SIGNIFICANT BARRIERS TO HEALTHCARE INCLUDING HIGHER UNINSURANCE RATES, GREATER RELIANCE ON PUBLIC INSURANCE, RISING CHRONIC DISEASE, BEHAVIORAL HEALTH, AND SUBSTANCE USE DISORDER BURDENS. CARE IS OFTEN DISTANT, WITH FEWER PRIMARY AND SPECIALTY CARE ACCESS POINTS, FRAGILE EMS, AND HEALTHCARE SYSTEMS STRAINED BY AGING INFRASTRUCTUR