Madison Hluchan, ASTHO assistant director of Medicaid and value-based payment, details how a new ASTHO resource can help your team with the Rural Health Transformation Program; and JoAnne Deehr, ASTHO senior analyst for state health policy, shares prevention and response policies to reduce overdoses involving synthetic opioids.
Madison Hluchan, ASTHO assistant director of Medicaid and value-based payment, details how a new ASTHO resource can help your team with the Rural Health Transformation Program; and JoAnne Deehr, ASTHO senior analyst for state health policy, shares prevention and response policies to reduce overdoses involving synthetic opioids.
ASTHO Blog Article: Understanding and Applying for the Rural Health Transformation Program
ASTHO Blog Article: Prevention and Response Policies to Reduce Overdoses Involving Synthetic Opioids
ASTHO Web Page: Legislative Alerts
SUMMER JOHNSON:
This is the award-winning Public Health Review Morning Edition for Friday, August 29, 2025. I'm Summer Johnson. Now, today's news from the Association of State and Territorial Health Officials.
MADISON HLUCHAN:
The program provides an opportunity for states to invest in prevention, innovative care delivery, and workforce initiatives to support rural communities.
JOHNSON:
ASTHO has a new online resource focused on its new Rural Health Transformation Program and how states can make the most of it. ASTHO CMO Dr. Susan Kansagra and several other team members developed the resource that explains the funding criteria, distribution of funds, the application process, and more. ASTHO's Madison Hluchan contributed to the article.
HLUCHAN:
The specific program funding allocates $10 billion per year to Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services for 2026 through 2030 to distribute to eligible states with approved applications.
JOHNSON:
Hluchan also dives into how the money is split up.
HLUCHAN:
In terms of the funding, it's right now broken into two buckets, with $25 billion to be distributed equally to all states with approved applications based on their alignment with CMS strategic goals. And the second $25 billion in funding is distributed to no less than 1/4 of states with approved applications based on the state's ruralness, their policies and policy commitments, as well as the quality of their applications.
JOHNSON:
Hluchan recommends coordinating with relevant state partners.
HLUCHAN:
At this time, it's our understanding that the Notice of Funding Opportunity is going to be really related to the governors' offices. So, connecting with your governor to understand their priorities and potential for the application process would be helpful.
JOHNSON:
The full blog article is online now. You can read it by clicking the link in the show notes.
Overdose Awareness Day is this weekend, August 31. An ASTHO Health Policy Update details prevention and response policies to reduce overdoses involving synthetic opioids. ASTHO's JoAnne Deehr tells us more.
JOANNE DEEHR:
Some policies contributing to the decline in fatal overdose rates include expanding access to naloxone, improved availability of evidence-based treatments for substance use disorders, and the distribution of drug checking equipment, such as fentanyl test strips.
JOHNSON:
Deehr says some recent policies focus on expanding the scope of authorized drug checking equipment beyond fentanyl.
DEEHR:
In 2025, at least six states have considered such legislation. Virginia and Louisiana enacted laws allowing for broader drug checking equipment that is used to detect any harmful substances. And other states, including Iowa and New Hampshire, have also explored similar expansions.
JOHNSON:
Deehr says the progress over the past few years proves that the public health community's substantial effort to address overdoses makes a difference.
DEEHR:
The work that we're doing matters, and the laws and the policies that we use are important in trying to address fatal overdose rates, so trying to use those policies effectively where, again, it's not just drug checking equipment, it's not just fentanyl test strips that should be available. We need to continue to build upon the work that we've already completed and done so that we've we're able to provide effective treatment for people.
JOHNSON:
You can find Deehr's Health Policy Update on ASTHO's website. We have a link right to it in the show notes. If health policy updates like this one are important to you, you never have to miss any legislative or policy movements around the country that affect public health when you sign up for ASTHO's Legislative Alerts. Sign up today when you click the link in the show notes.
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That'll do it for today. We're back Tuesday morning, bright and early, with more ASTHO news and information. I'm Summer Johnson, you're listening to the award-winning Public Health Review Morning Edition. Have a great weekend.
