Governor Ayotte Announces CMS Approval of GO-NORTH Rural Health Transformation Budget

CONCORD, NH - Governor Kelly Ayotte today announced that the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has approved GO-NORTH's first-year Rural Health Transformation budget well ahead of the October 30, 2026 deadline. This milestone clears the way for New Hampshire to move forward with full implementation of its rural health investment strategy. These investments are part of New Hampshire's five-year Rural Health Transformation award from CMS, which provides more than $204 million annually - the largest award among New England states.

With this approval, New Hampshire is among the first states in the country to have its budget for the first annual Rural Health Transformation award fully approved and obligated by CMS. The early approval reflects the strength of New Hampshire's plan, the state's commitment to delivering measurable improvements in access to care, workforce capacity, technology, population health, and rural health care sustainability, the readiness of its Hub implementation partners: the Community College System of New Hampshire, the University System of New Hampshire, the Foundation for Health Communities, the Community Behavioral Health Association, and the Community Development Finance Authority.

"New Hampshire moved thoughtfully and quickly because our rural communities and healthcare providers cannot afford to wait," said Governor Kelly Ayotte. "I'm proud to see CMS approve GO-NORTH's budget ahead of schedule, allowing us to get to work for patients, providers, and communities across our state. We'll continue to lead the way in implementing our bold plan to deliver an even healthier future for all of New Hampshire."

GO-NORTH - the Governor's Office for New Opportunities and Rural Transformational Health - will use the approved budget to advance projects that support New Hampshire's rural health care system, including investments to expand access to care, strengthen the health care workforce, modernize technology, improve prevention and chronic disease management, and support the long-term financial sustainability of our rural providers.

"This approval gives New Hampshire the certainty needed to move from planning to action," said Donnalee Lozeau, Director of GO-NORTH. "Our team has worked closely with CMS, DHHS, our rural providers, workforce partners, and community organizations to build a budget that is accountable, practical, and focused on results. We are grateful for CMS's partnership and confidence in New Hampshire's approach."

The Rural Health Transformation Program is a historic federal investment designed to help states strengthen rural health systems and improve outcomes for patients. New Hampshire's strategy is organized around five core initiatives: Healthcare Access, Population Health, Workforce, Technology, and Financial Sustainability. Together, these initiatives are designed to support innovative models of care, expand workforce pipelines, improve care coordination, modernize rural health technology, and ensure that our rural providers are positioned for long-term success.

GO-NORTH will continue working with our partners, including CMS, state agencies, providers, and community organizations, to implement the approved budget, monitor performance, and ensure that GO-NORTH's Rural Health Transformation funds are used efficiently and effectively to benefit New Hampshire residents and their communities.