RALEIGH — The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services on Monday announced Maggie Woods as the director of the Rural Health Transformation Program, which aims to improve health care and access for more than 3.5 million rural North Carolinians.
Woods currently serves as director of the N.C. Department of Information Technology’s Office of Digital Opportunity, where she led efforts to expand access to technology and digital skills for residents across the state.
“RHTP is a vital investment in rural communities in North Carolina,” said N.C. Health and Human Services Secretary Dev Sangvai. “We are excited to welcome Director Woods to the team as we work quickly to get these federal dollars out the door to the communities that need them the most and ensure we have a structure in place for local decision-making.”
The Rural Health Transformation Program is a statewide initiative supported by $213 million in federal funding approved by the U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. It is designed to address longstanding challenges in rural health care, including workforce shortages, hospital sustainability,and gaps in mental health and primary care services. The program will support more than 400 rural health facilities and bring hundreds of millions of dollars in federal investment to the state over the next five years.
Woods said she is honored to join NCDHHS and lead efforts to strengthen rural health care. “I grew up in rural America, and I understand first-hand many of the healthcare challenges facing rural communities,” she said. “This program represents an opportunity to strengthen health systems, expand access to care and ensure that everyone across our state has the opportunity to achieve their best health.”
The program will implement strategies to strengthen rural health systems and improve outcomes, including the launch of NC ROOTS (Rural Organizations Orchestrating Transformation for Sustainability) Hubs. These hubs will serve as regional networks connecting medical, behavioral health and social services.
The initiative also will expand access to prevention services, chronic disease management and nutrition programs, while increasing availability of mental health and substance use disorder treatment. Investments to help providers transition to value-based care models aim to improve efficiency and support sustainability in the rural health workforce.
North Carolinians can learn more at ncdhhs.gov/rhtp.