From the Office of Governor Tate Reeves
JACKSON, Miss. – Governor Tate Reeves today announced the establishment of the Mississippi Rural Health Transformation Program (RHTP) Office and launch of the official Mississippi RHTP website. The newly created office will be housed within the Office of the Governor. Together, these milestones mark a significant step forward in the State’s efforts to transform and modernize healthcare across rural communities.
The newly established RHTP Office will serve as the central hub for coordinating implementation of the State’s approved plan, ensuring alignment across agencies, managing program administration, and maintaining a strong focus on accountability and results. The launch of the website provides the public with a transparent and accessible view of Mississippi’s initiatives, funding opportunities, and progress.
Mississippi’s plan was developed through extensive engagement with stakeholders across the state, including the Mississippi State Department of Health, the Mississippi State Department of Mental Health, Medicaid, healthcare providers, public health officials, community leaders, FQHCs, health plans, legislators, and residents from rural communities. This input helped ensure the plan reflects the real needs, challenges, and priorities of the communities it is designed to serve.
The Rural Health Transformation Program is a historic federal investment by the Trump Administration designed to transform healthcare in rural communities by supporting long-term, sustainable improvements, not short-term fixes. Through this program, states have the opportunity to address systemic challenges by strengthening infrastructure, expanding access to care, supporting the healthcare workforce, and leveraging technology to improve outcomes. Mississippi’s plan includes a statewide rural health assessment and targeted initiatives focused on care coordination, workforce development, the implementation of a statewide health information exchange, telehealth expansion, and infrastructure improvements to ensure rural communities have access to high-quality, reliable care.
“This is a massive step forward for healthcare in Mississippi,” said Governor Tate Reeves. “By establishing a dedicated office and launching this website, we are putting the structure and transparency in place to deliver real, lasting improvements for our rural communities.”
Throughout the development and early implementation of the program, Governor Reeves has remained focused on preserving the flexibility needed to fully leverage federal funding. All program funds are subject to the federal procurement, monitoring, and audit requirements of 2 CFR Part 200, as well as the oversight and approval of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). Governor Reeves and his staff worked to address and push back on proposed state legislation that could have introduced unnecessary complexity or slowed implementation, ensuring the State remains well-positioned to execute its vision effectively.
To help lead this effort, the State has named Richard Grimes as Project Director of the Mississippi Rural Health Transformation Office. A CPA with deep experience guiding complex healthcare initiatives, Grimes has built his career around helping organizations navigate financial and operational challenges while maintaining a strong focus on long-term sustainability. He is known for his ability to turn strategy into action bringing clarity to complex issues, aligning stakeholders, and delivering practical, high-impact solutions. With a background spanning healthcare finance, policy, and organizational leadership, he has supported organizations through significant growth and transformation. His steady leadership and clear communication will be instrumental in ensuring the RHTP delivers meaningful, measurable improvements for communities across Mississippi.
The establishment of the RHTP Office and launch of the website mark the State’s transition from planning to implementation, with a continued commitment to transparency, accountability, and measurable impact.
For more information, please visit www.MississippiRHTP.com(opens in new tab).
This project is supported by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) as part of a financial assistance award totaling $205,990,180.16, with 99.96% funded by CMS/HHS ($205,907,220.16) and 0.04% funded by non-government sources ($82,960).
The contents are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent the official views of, nor an endorsement, by CMS/HHS, or the U.S. Government.