$50B Rural Health Transformation Program Needs More Transparency, Groups Say

5:06 AM ETDeveloping

Health Desk

Instead, much of the program’s transparency thus far has been up to state governments, and “the level of details that states have publicized really varies,” said Sandalow, who co-wrote a recent paper on how the federal government can strengthen the rural health program, including through transparency.

Transparency “is really important to help protect the integrity of the program, ensure funds are reaching the communities they’re meant to serve,” said Maya Sandalow, director of health policy for the Bipartisan Policy Center, a nonprofit think tank.

Sandalow said some states may be struggling to share information since they’re busy rushing to hire staff and meet the program’s tight deadlines, including an annual report due Aug. 31. Sandalow said previous federal programs “tend to draw attention for gaps in transparency and oversight rather than for doing it well.

“I just don’t believe in all this secrecy,” said Mississippi state Sen. Hob Bryan, who chairs his chamber’s public health committee. Bryan, a Democrat, said there’s bipartisan concern about the lack of transparency in his state.

CMS spokesperson Timothy Foster said the agency “will publish an annual report on state progress.

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Transparency “is really important to help protect the integrity of the program, ensure funds are reaching the communities they’re meant to serve,” said Maya Sandalow, director of health policy for the Bipartisan…
CMS spokesperson Timothy Foster said the agency “will publish an annual report on state progress.
Instead, much of the program’s transparency thus far has been up to state governments, and “the level of details that states have publicized really varies,” said Sandalow, who co-wrote a recent paper on how the…
“I just don’t believe in all this secrecy,” said Mississippi state Sen. Hob Bryan, who chairs his chamber’s public health committee.
Bryan, a Democrat, said there’s bipartisan concern about the lack of transparency in his state.
Sandalow said some states may be struggling to share information since they’re busy rushing to hire staff and meet the program’s tight deadlines, including an annual report due Aug. 31.
Sandalow said previous federal programs “tend to draw attention for gaps in transparency and oversight rather than for doing it well.

Sources

Kaiser Health News (KFF Health News) — source text fetched for this pass link