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Alabama: Help Inform National Mobile Health Clinic Policy and Practice

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The National Rural Health Association is partnering with the Leon Lowenstein Foundation to conduct a nationwide environmental scan of rural mobile health clinics. This initiative is focused on identifying successful models, emerging practices, and the policy frameworks needed to support mobile care delivery, with a strong emphasis on rural communities like those across Alabama.

As mobile clinics continue to expand access to primary care, behavioral health, and preventive services, understanding how these models operate within Alabama is essential. The findings from this effort will be used to develop a national report highlighting policy levers and infrastructure needs at both the state and federal level. Alabama’s input will help ensure that rural providers and communities are accurately represented in these recommendations.

The Alabama Rural Health Association encourages all stakeholders to participate in this effort. If you have knowledge of mobile health activities in Alabama or can connect NRHA with key leaders for informational interviews, your perspective is invaluable. Please reach out to Mory Bell at Mbell@ruralhealth.us or Marguerite Peterseim at Mpeterseim@ruralhealth.us to contribute.

2026 Alabama Rural Health Conference is a Wrap

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The Alabama Rural Health Association welcomed rural health professionals, clinic administrators, community health leaders, and industry partners to the 2026 Alabama Rural Health Conference, held March 18–20 at the Embassy Suites Birmingham Hoover in Hoover. Building on the success of previous years, the conference focused on advancing meaningful dialogue around key issues impacting rural healthcare, including workforce development, telehealth integration, financial sustainability, maternal health and the rural health transformation fund. With a record-breaking 195 attendees and 25 vendors, the event demonstrated strong engagement and continued growth as a premier gathering for rural health stakeholders across the state.

The conference featured a dynamic mix of plenary sessions and breakout discussions led by prominent speakers from across Alabama, addressing timely and critical topics in rural healthcare delivery. Attendees participated in interactive workshops and case-study sessions designed to provide practical, actionable strategies for rural clinics, critical access hospitals, and community health centers. A highlight of the conference was the student track and poster session, hosted by the Alabama AHEC, which showcased 17 presentations and emphasized the importance of cultivating the next generation of rural health leaders. The exhibit hall and networking opportunities further enhanced collaboration between providers, partners, and vendors.

This year’s conference also served as a meaningful platform to recognize outstanding leadership in rural health. Governor Kay Ivey was honored with the Association’s Outstanding Service Recognition for Rural Health for her exceptional commitment to strengthening healthcare access, supporting rural hospitals, and advancing innovative solutions across Alabama. Additionally, Dr. John Waits, CEO of Cahaba Medical Care, was named the 2026 Alabama Rural Health Provider of the Year for his transformative leadership in delivering high-quality, patient-centered care and advancing sustainable, team-based healthcare models. Together, these recognitions underscored the conference’s broader mission to align stakeholders around sustainable solutions and a stronger future for rural healthcare across all 67 counties in Alabama.

Alabama Rural Health Roadshow Draws Engagement From Rural Healthcare Leaders

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The Alabama Rural Health Association hosted its 2025 Alabama Rural Health Roadshow on Friday, November 21, 2025, from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. at the ADPH Training Center in Prattville.  The event welcomed 35 in-person attendees, with an additional 15 participants joining virtually from across the state.

The interactive session focused on identifying the most significant health challenges facing Alabama’s rural communities while gathering direct input from local leaders, providers, and partners. Attendees engaged in open discussions on workforce shortages, barriers to care, behavioral health needs, transportation limitations, and emerging priorities that impact rural residents. Feedback collected during the Roadshow will play a central role in shaping the Alabama Rural Health Association’s Policy Agenda for the upcoming year.

Participants also explored collaborative strategies to improve access, enhance provider support, and strengthen community-based solutions. The hybrid format allowed statewide participation, ensuring diverse perspectives and a broad understanding of local needs. Lunch was provided for in-person attendees, and both in-person and virtual participation were offered at no cost.

The Alabama Rural Health Roadshow continues to serve as an important platform for dialogue and action on rural health issues. Registration was available online for all interested participants, reinforcing the Association’s commitment to accessibility, community engagement, and advancing rural health outcomes across Alabama.

Alabama’s Rural Transformation Fund: A Bold New Vision for Rural Healthcare

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The Alabama Governor’s Office has submitted a comprehensive proposal to the federal government to secure Rural Transformation Fund resources that could reshape healthcare delivery across Alabama’s 58 rural counties. Known as the Alabama Rural Health Transformation Program (ARHTP), the initiative represents one of the most ambitious rural health reform plans in state history, designed to stabilize struggling facilities, expand access, strengthen the workforce, and bring care closer to home for more than 1.6 million rural residents.

A Statewide Strategy for Sustainable Change

At its core, the ARHTP aims to ignite transformational change across Alabama’s healthcare ecosystem. Guided by principles of transformation, sustainability, and accountability, the plan targets measurable improvements in access, quality, and health outcomes. It focuses on five pillars:

  1. Improving Access – through statewide telehealth and remote monitoring networks, mobile specialty services, and expanded behavioral and maternal health care.
  2. Improving Outcomes – by leveraging data and technology for chronic disease management, cancer prevention, and integrated behavioral health care.
  3. Technology and Innovation – establishing regional IT and cybersecurity hubs to connect providers through shared Electronic Health Records and secure data systems.
  4. Partnerships and Workforce Development – expanding Graduate Medical Education and creating pipelines through the new Alabama School of Healthcare Sciences, community colleges, and hospitals.
  5. Financial Solvency and Sustainability – modernizing payment models, supporting Treat-in-Place EMS reimbursement, and incentivizing local and regional cooperation among providers.

Key Initiatives to Transform Rural Care

The plan includes ten major initiatives that will directly impact rural providers and communities:

  • Collaborative EHR, IT, and Cybersecurity Initiative will create regional “hub” hospitals to help smaller facilities modernize technology, improve interoperability, and reduce cybersecurity risks.
  • Rural Health Initiative will expand telehealth and shared service networks to reduce unnecessary transfers and improve coordination.
  • Maternal and Fetal Health Initiative will provide telerobotic ultrasound systems, digital regionalization for obstetric care, and emergency labor and delivery carts for rural hospitals.
  • Rural Workforce Initiative will fund healthcare training, Graduate Medical Education expansion, and incentives to attract professionals to rural practice.
  • Cancer Digital Regionalization Initiative will build on Alabama’s Operation Wipe Out model for mobile screening and early detection.
  • Simulation Training Initiative will expand specialty training programs like COACHES for pediatric and emergency care in community hospitals.
  • EMS Trauma, Stroke, and Treat-in-Place Initiatives will enhance statewide emergency coordination and allow paramedics to treat patients on-site using teleconsultation.
  • Mental Health Initiative will expand school-based tele-mental health and convert Community Mental Health Centers to Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinics.
  • Community Medicine Initiative will integrate mobile wellness screening, healthy food access, and public education on healthy living.

How ARHA Members Can Play a Role

Members of the Alabama Rural Health Association (ARHA) are vital to the success of this plan. Hospitals, clinics, behavioral health centers, and academic partners across the state will have opportunities to participate in and benefit from these initiatives. Here are several ways ARHA members can engage:

  1. Participate in Pilot Projects: Members should watch for funding announcements and Requests for Proposals from ADECA or ADPH to serve as regional “hub” hospitals, telehealth partners, or workforce training sites.
  2. Support Policy Development: The Governor’s plan calls for an ARHTP Advisory Group, established by executive order in 2026, to recommend telehealth parity, EMS reimbursement, and licensure reforms. ARHA will help to ensure that rural providers have a voice in shaping these policies.
  3. Leverage Shared Resources: Members can explore shared IT services, cybersecurity operations, and group purchasing agreements through the proposed regional networks.
  4. Strengthen Local Coalitions: Collaboration among hospitals, clinics, schools, and public health agencies will be crucial to implementing programs such as school-based tele-mental health and maternal care hubs.
  5. Promote Workforce Pipelines: Rural facilities can partner with our universities, local colleges and workforce development programs to host training, internships, and residency programs that will sustain the healthcare workforce into the next decade.

The Road Ahead

The ARHTP will represent hundreds of millions of dollars of direct investment into rural healthcare over five years, potentially transforming how care is delivered across Alabama’s small towns and communities. The Alabama Rural Health Association stands ready to partner with the Governor’s Office, ADECA, and state agencies to ensure that rural voices are represented, that projects reflect real community needs, and that this unprecedented opportunity results in lasting, measurable improvements for Alabama’s rural citizens.

Changes Coming to HHS

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Secretary Kennedy will announce significant changes to the US Department of Health and Human Services, which will cut roughly a quarter of the workforce, reshape the nation’s health agencies, and close 5 of the 10 HHS regional offices.

As part of the reorganization, Kennedy is creating a new subdivision called the Administration for a Healthy America, will include the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Health (OASH), and the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), as well as two groups that currently reside within the CDC: the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry and the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health.

Other key changes include: 

  • A new Assistant Secretary of Enforcement that will include several offices related to adjudicating or investigating disputes related to Medicare and areas of HHS. 
  • A new Office of Strategy that will include the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ), will merge with the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation (ASPE). 
  • Programs for older adults currently under the Administration for Community Living (ACL) will move to other divisions of HHS, including CMS. 

Specific information on changes to the Federal Office of Rural Health Policy, as well as other HRSA programs, are not yet known.  NRHA will keep members apprised as additional information becomes available.