Governor DeWine announces Rural Health Transformation Program Pharmacy Initiative awards

Ohio Governor Mike DeWine and the Ohio Department of Health (ODH) announced this week two Rural Health Transformation (RHT) Program awards totaling $3.15 million that will help expand pharmacy connectivity and improve the health of Ohioans in rural communities. The Ohio Pharmacists Association (OPA) has been awarded $2 million for this initiative, and the State of Ohio Board of Pharmacy will use $1.15 million to support the initiative.

"Rural Ohio has faced pharmacy shortages leaving Ohioans without access to critical healthcare necessities like medications and other basic needs,” said Governor DeWine. "This funding specifically addresses the gaps in rural areas to bring together pharmacies so Ohioans have the resources they need in their own community.”

Ohio was awarded $202 million from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), which Governor DeWine announced in December 2025.

“The Trump Administration’s Rural Health Transformation Program is based on one simple idea: your access to quality health care shouldn’t depend on your ZIP code,” said Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Administrator Dr. Mehmet Oz. “Funding new approaches to expand access to both primary and specialty care is a critical step toward achieving that vision for Ohioans, and I look forward to seeing RHTP investments drive equally transformative innovations for rural communities nationwide.”

Through this initiative, OPA will connect a network of independent pharmacies, retail pharmacies, federally qualified health centers, and outpatient hospital pharmacies across Ohio’s 73 rural counties to a health information exchange (HIE), improving access to patient medical records. This will enable pharmacists to enhance patient access to quality healthcare coordination to effectively manage medications and reduce drug-related, adverse events.

“We know how important it is for all Ohioans to access their medical records over a secure health information exchange,” said ODH Director Dr. Bruce Vanderhoff. “As a state, we have been working on this issue for years, and this additional generous federal funding will be a huge boost to enhance connectivity for our rural residents.”

“This award represents a transformational opportunity for rural healthcare in Ohio and a historic milestone for the Ohio Pharmacists Association," said Sara Kilpatrick, OPA chief executive officer. "As the largest grant award in OPA’s history, the Rural Health Transformation Program pharmacy initiative recognizes the critical role pharmacy professionals play in advancing access to care, improving patient outcomes, and strengthening healthcare delivery in underserved communities. We are grateful for the opportunity to partner with healthcare leaders across the state to build innovative, sustainable models of care that better serve Ohio patients where they live."

To address low rates of prescription drug monitoring program (PDMP) integration within electronic health records and pharmacy dispensing systems, RHT funding will support the Ohio Board of Pharmacy’s efforts to improve integrated access for rural healthcare providers.

Ohio’s PDMP, known as the Ohio Automated Rx Reporting System (OARRS), collects information on all prescriptions for controlled substances and two non-controlled substances dispensed by Ohio-licensed pharmacies and personally furnished by licensed prescribers in Ohio. OARRS helps prescribers and pharmacists avoid potentially life-threatening drug interactions as well as identify individuals fraudulently obtaining controlled substances from multiple healthcare providers.

Currently, Ohio’s rural communities have some of the lowest rates of OARRS integration in the state. By conducting needs assessments, performing outreach, and providing onboarding assistance, the Ohio Board of Pharmacy hopes to reach a 90% integration rate for all rural counties.

“OARRS integration allows healthcare providers instant access to critical prescription information within their electronic systems, which saves time that can be redirected to patient care,” said Ohio Board of Pharmacy Executive Director Steven W. Schierholt. “By addressing low rates of OARRS integration in rural communities, we can ensure all Ohio healthcare providers have access to the tools needed to protect patient safety and improve care coordination.”

This project is supported by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) as part of a financial assistance award totaling $3.15 million with 100 percent funded by CMS/HHS. The contents are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent the official views of, nor an endorsement, by CMS/HHS, or the U.S. Government.