News & Media
New MDHHS Rural Health Transformation Advisory Council Seeks Applicants
The Rural Health Transformation Program is a $50 billion grant program over five years that was included in H.R. 1 (a.k.a., the One Big Beautiful Bill Act), which was passed by Congress and signed into law July 4, 2025. Funding awards to states have been announced and now the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) is seeking members to serve on their Rural Health Transformation (RHT) Advisory Council. MSMS encourages all interested physicians to apply.
The advisory council will play a key role in supporting the successful implementation of Michigan’s RHT Program, which aims to strengthen rural health systems, improve access to services and support sustainable care for rural communities across the state.
Successful candidates will need to have experience with, insight on, and a commitment to improving rural health. If you believe you meet this expectation and the criteria below, you can apply online.
Eligible individuals:
- Represent or work closely with rural populations.
- Bring knowledge of rural health challenges, community needs or service delivery gaps.
- Demonstrate a commitment to collaborative problem-solving and inclusive partnership.
- Can participate in scheduled meetings and contribute to ongoing implementation activities.
According to MDHHS, applicants will be selected to ensure balanced representation across Michigan’s rural counties and key stakeholder groups, including health care providers, public health and behavioral health organizations, community-based agencies, tribal health partners, academic institutions, and policy, payer and workforce development entities.
The RHT Advisory Council will meet quarterly (approximately 60 to 90 minutes per meeting) and is charged with:
- Supporting development of an engagement strategy to strengthen partner and community input throughout implementation and evaluation.
- Providing actionable guidance to MDHHS to inform decision-making and ensure the program remains responsive to rural communities.
If you have questions during the application process, they can be sent to MDHHS-RHTP@michigan.gov. General questions for MSMS regarding the RHTP can be directed to Stacey P. Hettiger, MSMS Senior Director of Advocacy and Payor Relations, at shettiger@msms.org or 517-336-5766.
Resources: