By Staff Report
State and local health leaders met in Bonifay on Tuesday, April 21, for an informational roundtable on Florida’s new Rural Health Transformation Program, a federally funded initiative aimed at expanding access to healthcare in rural communities. The event was hosted by Agency for Health Care Administration (AHCA) Secretary Shevaun Harris and held at PanCare of Florida’s Bonifay clinic.
The program, made possible through federal funding secured in 2025, will direct more than $200 million to Florida to strengthen rural healthcare infrastructure, workforce capacity, and access to services. AHCA has opened applications for more than $188 million available in the program’s first year.
Secretary Harris said the initiative represents a major opportunity for rural counties and municipalities across the state. She noted that Florida has more than 30 rural counties and over 200 rural municipalities that stand to benefit from improved technology, partnerships, and care delivery models.
Speakers at the roundtable included representatives from the Florida Hospital Association, Florida Rural Health Association, Florida Association of Community Health Centers, Florida Behavioral Health Association, and PanCare of Florida. Discussion centered on how the funding can help stabilize local healthcare systems, reduce travel burdens for patients, and support long‑term community health.
“This is an opportunity to strengthen and stabilize where people live, work, and raise their families,” said Melanie Brown‑Woofter, president and CEO of the Florida Behavioral Health Association, emphasizing the program’s potential to improve outcomes in underserved areas.
State Rep. Shane Abbott, who attended the event, said the investment will help bring innovative solutions to communities that need them most and reaffirmed his commitment to improving healthcare access in rural Northwest Florida.
Applications for the Rural Health Transformation Program are now open through AHCA and will remain available as part of the five‑year funding cycle.
WMBB contributed to this article.
GARETT VALCOURT 
AMBER PATINO 