In recent months, the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) has sparked considerable discussion across the healthcare sector. While much of the attention has focused on individual and family-centered provisions such as tax relief and Medicaid, hospitals and health systems are starting to explore what this legislation really means for them and the communities they serve.
A key component of the bill is the Rural Health Transformation Program (RHTP), described as “the largest single investment in rural healthcare since the Medicare Modernization Act of 2023.”¹ Much of the conversation has focused on how RHTP could impact hospital operations, especially core service lines, and what grant funding may be available.
Eligibility and Approval
To qualify, your state must apply for RHTP and be approved by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). Eligibility is based on several factors, including but not limited to rural population size and the percentage of low-income patients served. CMS will approve or deny all applications by December 31, 2025, and determine the funding allocation for each approved state.
Potential Impact for Hospitals
If your state is approved and your hospital receives RHTP funding, your organization will need to allocate funds in accordance with the program’s approved uses. One potential use is investing in your hospital-based fitness center to bridge the gap between healthcare and medical fitness through a value-based care model.
Technology and Chronic Disease Solutions
If awarded funds, your rural hospital or hospital-based fitness center can leverage grant opportunities to support value-based care initiatives. Power Wellness will guide you through every step to ensure a smooth rollout, seamless transition, and successful adoption of programs and technology.
- Technology-Driven Opportunity: Value-based care can extend your hospital’s core service lines to your fitness center, whether onsite or virtual. Power Wellness’s customizable mobile app fully integrates with all EHR systems and ensures HIPAA compliance. This platform supports community health by enabling outcomes tracking, providing access to virtual fitness programs and improving accessibility. Establishing this digital infrastructure is essential for strengthening your hospital’s brand and laying the foundation for measurable health improvements.
- Chronic Disease Management Through Medical Fitness: Power Wellness is a leader in medically integrated fitness, offering evidence-based programs aligned with your hospital’s core services and community health goals. These programs extend care beyond the clinic, helping manage or reverse chronic conditions such as diabetes, arthritis, and heart disease. They also support recovery from joint replacements, cancer treatment, and weight management. Fully integrated with your medical team, our programs deliver measurable outcomes and real-time progress tracking for patients and providers. Medical fitness can be offered both in person and virtually, expanding your hospital’s reach and impact.
Power Wellness can help you expand your core services by making fitness a true extension of care through technology and medical integration. Additional allowable uses of funds may include facility upgrades, equipment, management services, and efforts to improve service quality and access.
Our mission is to improve health outcomes alongside yours. As more details emerge, Power Wellness is ready to be your trusted partner in maximizing these opportunities.
Sources:
- Rural Health Transformation Program Fact Sheet. U.S. Senate Committee on Finance. July 2025. https://www.finance.senate.gov/imo/media/doc/rural_health_transformation_program_fact_sheet.pdf
- The One Big Beautiful Bill Protects Rural Hospitals. U.S. Senator Mike Crapo (Press release). July 30, 2025. https://www.finance.senate.gov/chairmans-news/the-one-big-beautiful-bill-protects-rural-hospitals
- Myth vs. Fact: The One Big Beautiful Bill. The White House. June 2025. https://www.whitehouse.gov/articles/2025/06/myth-vs-fact-the-one-big-beautiful-bill/
- National Organization of State Offices of Rural Health. (2025). Rural Health Transformation Program summary. Rural Health.us. Retrieved August 13, 2025, from https://www.ruralhealth.us/nationalruralhealth/media/documents/advocacy/2025/rural-health-transformation-program-summary.pdf