HB614 Alabama 2026 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Rex ReynoldsRepresentative

Republican

Session

2026 Regular Session

Title

Rural Health Transformation Program, appropriations for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2027

Summary

HB614 would provide supplemental federal funding for the Rural Health Transformation Program to ADECA for a range of rural health initiatives through FY 2027.

What This Bill Does

It would appropriate up to $203,404,327 in federal funds from the One Big Beautiful Bill Act of 2025 to the Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs (ADECA) for the Rural Health Transformation Program for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2027, and designate funds for initiatives such as EHR/IT/cybersecurity, rural health, maternal and fetal health, rural workforce, cancer digital regionalization, simulation training, EMS trauma and stroke, EMS treat-in-place, mental health, and rural health practice. It also allows up to $20,340,432 to reimburse administration, auditing, and reporting costs. Unspent funds can be carried forward to the next year and reappropriated for the following year's purposes, with a process for reallocations requiring concurrence and CMS approval; if CMS disapproves, ADECA must follow CMS rules. The act takes effect October 1, 2026.

Who It Affects

• ADECA (Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs) will receive and manage the funds and oversee the listed initiatives
• Rural health providers, hospitals, and communities in Alabama will benefit from funding across IT, workforce, maternal and fetal health, EMS, mental health, cancer regionalization, and training programs
• EMS, trauma, and stroke services will receive dedicated funding for improvement and expansion
• IT vendors and partners involved in the Collaborative EHR, IT, and Cybersecurity Initiative may participate in funding for upgrades and cybersecurity
• Federal CMS (Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services) oversight is involved, as reallocations require CMS approval

Key Provisions

• Total supplemental appropriation of up to $203,404,327 in federal funds from P.L. 119-21 to ADECA for the Rural Health Transformation Program for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2027, to fund multiple initiatives.
• Allocations to specific initiatives with maximum amounts: Collaborative EHR, IT, and Cybersecurity Initiative up to $31,425,971; Rural Health Initiative up to $55,936,190; Maternal and Fetal Health Initiative up to $6,102,130; Rural Workforce Initiative up to $57,919,382; Cancer Digital Regionalization Initiative up to $8,136,173; Simulation Training Initiative up to $1,017,021; Statewide EMS Trauma and Stroke Initiative up to $4,068,085; EMS Treat-In-Place Initiative up to $5,085,108; Mental Health Initiative up to $7,271,705; Rural Health Practice Initiative up to $6,102,130; Administration, auditing, and reporting costs up to $20,340,432.
• Funds unexpended in the current fiscal year may be carried forward to the same purposes; unexpended funds on September 30, 2027 shall be reappropriated for the next fiscal year starting October 1, 2027.
• If any initiative needs adjustment due to available funds, the ADECA Director must obtain written concurrence from the Finance Director and the chairs of the relevant House and Senate committees before seeking CMS approval for reallocation.
• If CMS modifies or withholds approval, ADECA shall continue to administer the appropriation in accordance with CMS requirements.
• This act does not require spending federal funds in violation of federal law and allows ADECA to spend funds according to the terms and conditions of the federal funding.
• Effective date: October 1, 2026.

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano-2025-08-07 on Apr 2, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.

Subjects

Appropriations