CENTENNIAL, CO, March 10, 2026 /24-7PressRelease/ -- Colorado Rural Health Center (CRHC) CEO Michelle Mills was recently named the chairperson of the Rural Health Transformation Program (RHTP) Advisory Committee.

"The RHTP Advisory Committee will serve as an essential advisory body in the development, implementation and governance of the RHTP, leveraging over $1 billion in federal grants during the grant period (2026–2031)," said the Colorado Department of Health Care Policy & Financing. "As part of this work, the Committee will provide strategic direction and guidance for the entire RHTP within the guidelines of this federal grant program, ensure rural stakeholder representation, advise on funding distribution priorities and grant application development, review statewide program progress and performance data, and coordinate with technical workgroups."

Colorado's successfully funded application to the federal program will fund work in all 52 rural and frontier counties and the two federally recognized tribes in Colorado. RHTP will address access to specialty care (including behavioral health and obstetric and gynecology services), the chronic disease epidemic, and the needs of Colorado's two tribes. The work will be accomplished through fostering collaboration, innovation, and access to care and the advisory council will be tasked with providing crucial direction and oversight of the program.

"I am proud to be named Chair for this important committee. Together the committee will help make sure that these funds are spent to benefit rural communities and facilities in Colorado by providing funding to assist with rural innovation and sustainability," said Mills.

The full committee is comprised of the following representatives:

Michelle Mills, Colorado Rural Health Center: Committee Chair
Kari Snelson, Northeast Health Partners
Jania Arnoldi, Valley-Wide Health Systems
Camille Harding, Paragon Behavioral Health
Reuben Farnsworth, Delta County Ambulance District
Stephanie Sargent, Cedar Point Health LLC
Joni Reynolds, Gunnison County Health & Human Services
April Randle, Basin Clinic; Southwest Health Systems
Dannon Cox, Colorado School of Public Health, University of Northern Colorado
Lora Spradley, Citizen Liaison
Jack Devie, Certified Peer Specialist
Kevin Stansbury, Lincoln Health
Joe Theine, Southwest Health Systems
Konnie Martin, San Luis Valley Health
Stephanie Pugliese, Office of eHealth Innovation
Ned Calonge, CDPHE
BHA Commissioner or Delegate, BHA
Cristen Bates, HCPF

The Colorado Rural Health Center was established in 1991 as Colorado's State Office of Rural Health. As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit corporation, CRHC serves dual roles as the State Office of Rural Health and the State Rural Health Association. The organization's mission is to enhance healthcare services in the state by providing information, education, linkages, tools, and energy toward addressing rural health issues. CRHC's vision is to improve healthcare services available in rural communities to ensure that all rural Coloradans have access to comprehensive, affordable, high quality healthcare. For more information visit www.coruralhealth.org, call 303-832-7493, or call toll free 800-851-6782 from rural Colorado.

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