Northwest New Jersey organizations among recipients of rural health transformation grants

TRENTON, N.J. — Gov. Mikie Sherrill announced that healthcare providers, hospitals and community organizations serving Northwest New Jersey are among the recipients of the first round of grants awarded through the state’s $83 million Rural Health Transformation Program.

The grants represent the first investments from the state’s five-year, federally funded Rural Health Transformation Program, which is designed to improve healthcare infrastructure, expand access to care and support innovative healthcare initiatives in rural New Jersey.

“Every New Jerseyan deserves access to quality healthcare, regardless of where they live,” said Governor Sherrill. “These grants will help strengthen hospitals, community health providers, and the healthcare workforce that families rely on every day. While these funds do not make up for a federal government that is gutting funding for healthcare, by investing in innovative, community-driven solutions, we are taking a healthier and more affordable future for New Jersey into our own hands.”

The grants support projects in five priority areas: workforce development, healthcare infrastructure, technology, prevention and chronic disease management.

“In order to make good health possible for everyone, we have to identify the challenges facing distinct populations and craft innovative solutions to meet their health needs,” said Health Commissioner Dr. Raynard E. Washington. “These investments will help strengthen the overall health of rural New Jersey communities and move us closer to our goal of making New Jersey the healthiest state in the union.”

“These investments are about more than funding individual projects,” said Human Services Commissioner Dr. Stephen Cha. “They are about transforming how healthcare is delivered in rural New Jersey. We are investing in stronger healthcare systems, a more resilient workforce, and innovative models of care that will improve access and affordability for residents today while building lasting capacity for the future.”

While New Jersey is the nation’s most densely populated state, about one in 10 residents live in rural communities, where healthcare workforce shortages, hospital maternity unit closures and limited access to care remain ongoing challenges.

New Jersey received more than $147 million from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services for the program’s first year. The Department of Health received more than 200 applications and selected 103 projects for funding.

Among the grants awarded in northwest New Jersey:

• Atlantic Health received $1.46 million each for Hackettstown Medical Center and Newton Medical Center to expand care for uninsured and underinsured patients through transitions of care programs, Food Is Medicine initiatives and tele-neurology technology.
• Atlantic Ambulance Corporation received $614,190 to expand access to comprehensive healthcare by growing its Mobile Integrated Health services and pre-hospital whole blood administration program, improving coordinated care, reducing treatment delays and avoidable emergency utilization, and enhancing patient outcomes for underserved rural communities.
• Hunterdon Medical Center received $1,446,828 to modernize digital hardware and complete electronic medical record modernization, and an additional $147,117 to expand chronic disease screening, prevention, education and healthy food access.
• Hunterdon County was awarded $401,359 to expand preventive care, cancer screenings, vision care and mental health services through mobile health delivery, transportation assistance and community-based programs.
• Warren County received $4,180 to establish a quality assurance and quality improvement program for emergency medical services dispatch, improving protocol compliance, workforce competency and operational accountability.
• Allamuchy-Green First Aid Squad received $281,939 to modernize patient transport capabilities and improve emergency and preventive healthcare access in rural Warren County.
• St. Luke’s Warren Hospital received $657,452 to enhance patient care through technology integration and an additional $1.46 million to upgrade ultrasound, diagnostic and women’s imaging equipment.
• Sussex County received $206,539 to expand preventive health screenings, health education and referral services through community-based screening kiosks and mobile health clinics.
• NORWESCAP received $52,236 to deploy digital screening kiosks in Hunterdon, Sussex and Warren counties and another $106,258 to identify unmet medical and social needs and connect residents with healthcare and community resources in Hunterdon and Warren counties.
• Zufall Health Center received $600,162 to expand mobile, telehealth and community-based primary and preventive care in Hunterdon, Sussex and Warren counties, as well as $154,135 to improve chronic disease prevention, screening and self-management services for hypertension and diabetes.
• Crossroads4Hope received $329,734 to expand cancer prevention education, screening, supportive care and referral services in Hunterdon, Sussex and Warren counties.
• Center for Prevention & Counseling Inc. received $160,708 to expand substance use prevention, recovery support and community-based health services in Sussex and Warren counties through outreach, screening, education and care coordination.

State officials said the Rural Health Transformation Program represents a historic investment in New Jersey’s rural healthcare system, even as anticipated federal funding reductions are expected to place financial pressure on hospitals, healthcare providers and coverage programs. The administration estimates New Jersey could face $3.3 billion in annual reductions to hospitals and public health funding and that more than 300,000 residents could lose NJFamilyCare coverage because of changes to Medicaid eligibility.