Arkansas's Rural Health Transformation Program: the maternal projects it funded

Year-one award

$208,779,396

Lead agency

Dept. of Finance and Administration with the Governor's Office and DHS

Maternal care in the plan

Names maternal care without a maternal line item

Status

Awarded

What Arkansas's plan says about maternal care

The Department of Finance and Administration runs the program with the Governor's Office, and awards were chosen by a team from the Governor's Office, the Department of Human Services, the Department of Health and DFA. The plan has four initiatives: THRIVE (telehealth and health monitoring), PACT (access and care coordination), RISE AR (workforce) and HEART (healthy eating and community health).

The plan's need statement is blunt: "Maternal health: Only 25 of 75 counties still have labor and delivery units, and rural maternal mortality rates are double urban counterparts." It adds that "several have eliminated obstetrics or inpatient services." PACT commits to "expanding access to primary, specialty, behavioral, and maternal care through mobile units and telehealth platforms; and coordinating care between local providers and regional specialists."

What was funded

The state's August 27 and September 24, 2026 award announcements list these maternal projects:

• Arkansas Pregnancy Care Connect, UAMS, $2,986,934 (PACT)
• River Valley Wellness, maternal and primary care, $3,500,000 (PACT)
• Rural Maternal Health Expansion, New York Institute of Technology, $1,524,031 (PACT)
• Maternal Mobile Health Unit, Conway Regional, $795,960 (PACT)
• Doula Alliance of Arkansas, $860,500 (PACT)
• Technology-enabled maternal diabetes program, LilyLink and The Perinatal Center, $871,736 (THRIVE)
• Rural Newborn Alliance, Arkansas Children's, $91,400 (THRIVE)
• Le Bonheur Jonesboro Outpatient Center telehealth expansion, adding Level 2 fetal ultrasounds among other services, Methodist Le Bonheur Community Outreach, $340,725 (THRIVE)
• Family Medicine Obstetrics Fellowship, UAMS, $536,294 (RISE AR), with fellows starting July 2027
• Rural Doula Workforce Investment Model, Arkansas Doulas, $850,000 (RISE AR)
• Family medicine rural track with a maternal health and obstetrics pathway, Baptist Health, $418,883 (RISE AR)
• Rural Lactation Workforce Certification Initiative, Conway Regional, $159,130 (RISE AR)
• Rural Outreach, Obstetrics & Traditional Skills (R.O.O.T.S.), ARFuture Foundation, $805,375 (HEART)

The state says the details of each grant aren't final until DFA signs an agreement with the grantee.

What is open, and what comes next

Nothing is open. The September 24 announcement said the round "completes the distribution of the $208 million awarded to Arkansas this year." No year-two window has been announced, and the state's FAQ says organizations "will need to re-apply for future program year awards," with awards approved on a rolling basis during program years.

Who can apply, and where a partner fits

Arkansas's rounds were open to rural hospitals, clinics, FQHCs, EMS providers, pharmacies, licensed practitioners, behavioral health providers, clinically integrated networks, universities and nonprofit or public entities serving rural Arkansas, depending on the round. For-profit providers could apply and some won. Vendors couldn't: the FAQ says "Third party vendors… should partner directly with these funded organizations." The state isn't planning to buy telehealth or other technology equipment directly, but says it may in future program years.

Frequently asked questions

Can a telehealth company apply in Arkansas?

Not directly. The state's FAQ says third-party vendors should partner with funded organizations.

Is any year-one money left?

No. The state says the September 24 round completed the distribution of its year-one award.

Sources