The Colorado Rural Health Center (CRHC) CEO Michelle Mills has been appointed chairperson of the Rural Health Transformation Program (RHTP) Advisory Committee. The committee will provide strategic direction for a program leveraging more than $1 billion in federal grants from 2026 to 2031, according to the Colorado Department of Health Care Policy & Financing.
The RHTP Advisory Committee will serve as an essential advisory body in the development, implementation, and governance of the RHTP. Its responsibilities include providing strategic guidance within federal grant guidelines, ensuring rural stakeholder representation, advising on funding distribution priorities and grant application development, reviewing statewide program progress and performance data, and coordinating with technical workgroups.
Colorado's successfully funded application will direct resources to all 52 rural and frontier counties and the two federally recognized tribes in the state. The program aims to address critical healthcare gaps, including access to specialty care such as behavioral health and obstetric and gynecology services, combat the chronic disease epidemic, and meet the specific needs of Colorado's tribal communities. This work will be accomplished through fostering collaboration, innovation, and improved access to care.
"I am proud to be named Chair for this important committee. Together the committee will help make sure that these funds are spent to benefit rural communities and facilities in Colorado by providing funding to assist with rural innovation and sustainability," Mills stated.
The advisory committee comprises representatives from various healthcare and community organizations across the state. Members include Kari Snelson of Northeast Health Partners, Jania Arnoldi of Valley-Wide Health Systems, Camille Harding of Paragon Behavioral Health, Reuben Farnsworth of the Delta County Ambulance District, Stephanie Sargent of Cedar Point Health LLC, Joni Reynolds of Gunnison County Health & Human Services, April Randle of Basin Clinic and Southwest Health Systems, Dannon Cox of the Colorado School of Public Health at the University of Northern Colorado, Lora Spradley as Citizen Liaison, Jack Devie as a Certified Peer Specialist, Kevin Stansbury of Lincoln Health, Joe Theine of Southwest Health Systems, Konnie Martin of San Luis Valley Health, Stephanie Pugliese of the Office of eHealth Innovation, Ned Calonge of CDPHE, the BHA Commissioner or Delegate, and Cristen Bates of HCPF.
The Colorado Rural Health Center, established in 1991 as Colorado's State Office of Rural Health, operates as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit corporation serving dual roles as the State Office of Rural Health and the State Rural Health Association. Its mission is to enhance healthcare services by providing information, education, linkages, tools, and energy toward addressing rural health issues. The organization's vision is to ensure all rural Coloradans have access to comprehensive, affordable, high-quality healthcare. For more information, visit https://www.coruralhealth.org.
The appointment signals a significant step in administering one of the largest federal healthcare investments in rural Colorado's recent history. For business and technology leaders, the program represents a substantial market opportunity in health technology, telehealth infrastructure, and innovative care delivery models designed for rural settings. The committee's oversight will influence how over a billion dollars is allocated, potentially setting new standards for rural healthcare innovation, public-private partnerships, and data-driven health outcomes. The focus on chronic disease and specialty care access addresses systemic issues that impact workforce health and economic productivity in rural regions, making this initiative crucial for long-term community sustainability and economic development.
