Essentia Health convenes roundtable discussion with federal, state and local health care leaders

$50 billion Rural Health Transformation Program and ideas for best implementation discussed 

Essentia Health convened federal, state and other rural health care leaders in Fargo on Thursday to discuss the $50 billion Rural Health Transformation Program and opportunities to maximize its impact on rural health delivery, workforce and sustainability.

Health care leaders from across the region emphasized the need for innovative, sustainable care models and a targeted funding approach that will strengthen the foundation of health care in rural communities.

“The Rural Health Transformation Program is a unique opportunity to help re-engineer rural health care around sustainable, patient-focused care models that work,” said Essentia Health CEO Dr. David Herman. “By prioritizing investments in rural training pipelines and innovative care-delivery systems, we can create long-term solutions for rural communities. We are proud to be a leader in rural health care and to host Thursday’s discussion. It’s crucial that these critical funds reach the communities they are intended to serve.”

The Rural Health Transformation Program is designed to help rural health care systems and represents the largest federal investment in rural health in recent years. Starting in 2026, the program will distribute $50 billion over five years. States must submit transformation plans to access funding, half of which will be allocated equally per state and the rest distributed based on scoring criteria set by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.

With a service area that is 84% rural and spans across three states, Essentia navigates the challenges confronting rural health care every day. Essentia is a national leader in value-based care, leveraging its integrated care model and community partnerships to prevent illness and make care more affordable for patients with better health outcomes. Amid challenging times, Essentia clinicians have continued to deliver excellent results for their patients, and its physician-led leadership team has demonstrated the ability to support financial resilience and stability.

“At Essentia Health, our top priority is ensuring every patient has access to high-quality care, regardless of where they live,” said Dr. Stefanie Gefroh, Essentia’s West Market president. “Thursday’s discussion was a great opportunity to advocate for our patients and for innovative solutions that address the unique challenges facing rural health care.”

Attendees included Dr. Caprice Knapp, acting director for the Center for Medicaid and CHIP Services; representatives from the North Dakota Governor’s Office and the Department of Health and Human Services; Essentia leadership, including Dr. Herman, Dr. Gefroh, Chief Medical Officer Dr. Gratia Pitcher and Chief Population Health Officer Dr. Cathy Cantor; and CEOs from regional critical access hospitals — Towner County Medical Center, Jamestown Medical Center, St. Luke’s Medical Center and RiverView Health.

PHOTO CAPTION: Roundtable participants gathered for a group photo in the main lobby at Essentia Health-Fargo. 

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ABOUT ESSENTIA HEALTH 

Essentia Health’s mission is to make a healthy difference in people’s lives. An integrated nonprofit health system, Essentia relentlessly pursues that mission at our 14 hospitals, 80 clinics, 30 retail pharmacies, six long-term care facilities, three assisted living facilities, two independent living facilities, seven ambulance services and one research institute. Essentia has about 15,500 employees, including 2,350 physicians and advanced practitioners who provide expert, compassionate care. We’re privileged to serve patients in Minnesota, North Dakota and Wisconsin.