Governor Sarah Sanders announced on September 24, 2021, that Arkansas has awarded $54.6 million in grants as part of the second round of the Rural Health Transformation Program (RHTP), following an earlier announcement of $149.3 million in August. The funding is derived from the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, enacted by Congress last year, which came after substantial cuts to the federal Medicaid program totaling $900 billion.

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These grants are part of a larger initiative of expected funding totaling $208 million, which the state anticipates distributing by this fall. Over the next five years, Arkansas is projected to receive more than $1 billion in rural health transformation funding.

In this latest funding round, $27.4 million will be allocated to 30 projects through the Healthy Eating, Active Recreation & Transformation (HEART) initiative, while $27.2 million will support 24 projects through the Recruitment, Innovation Skills, and Education for Arkansas (RISE AR) initiative.

Governor Sanders highlighted the importance of proactive measures for rural health care, stating, "Transforming rural health care starts long before a patient walks through the hospital doors. Thanks to President Trump’s Working Families Tax Cuts, we’re strengthening rural health care from the ground up."

The HEART initiative aims to enhance health outcomes and access to preventive care through community-focused programs, including better access to local produce, establishing food pantries, and creating educational resources on nutrition and physical activity. The initiative will address food insecurity, reduce chronic diseases, and promote healthier lifestyles among Arkansans.

The RISE AR initiative focuses on bolstering the rural health workforce by expanding clinical training opportunities, recruiting and retaining health professionals, and offering specialized training for rural hospitals and clinics.

Among the grant recipients are:

- University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences: $793,830 for a program providing locally sourced produce prescriptions and community gardens for cancer survivors.

- Arkansas Alliance of Boys & Girls Clubs: $930,000 to expand health services at rural club sites benefiting over 25,000 students.

- Arkansas Foodbank: $1,382,100 to transform food pantries into Community Resource Centers.

- Heartland Whole Health Institute: $8,420,000 for telehealth and chronic disease management initiatives across multiple counties.

Further detailed plans include a variety of local projects aimed at enhancing nutritional and health education, physical activity, and community health worker outreach across rural Arkansas. The funding marks a significant step in improving rural health infrastructure and access to care in the state.