Rural Health Transformation Program Center of Excellence Advisory Council

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The purpose of the Rural Health Transformation Program (RHTP) Center of Excellence (CoE) Advisory Council is to develop recommendations to align care delivery services with rural health needs at the county, tribal, and facility level, in accordance with Montana’s federally approved RHTP plan. These recommendations will help facilities improve financial sustainability and ensure continued access to critical health services in rural Montana.

The Advisory Council will support and guide the CoE Strategy and Analytics vendor’s work by providing critical provider and community perspectives, feedback, and recommendations informed by their experience and expertise in the realities of rural health care delivery in Montana.

DPHHS Seeking Members for CoE Advisory Council

Montana’s RHTP is seeking members to serve on its 20-member CoE Advisory Council.

The Department aims to balance rural health experience with subject-matter expertise to ensure a diverse and qualified, representative engagement from a broad range of stakeholders.

The 20-member voting council will be supported by five non-voting representatives.

The Department is launching a competitive application process to fill 15 of the positions on the Council across seven distinct categories. Several of these categories will be filled by more than one appointee.

Applications are being accepted for the following slots:

One of each:

  • Rural Health Care Consumer
  • Rural Primary Care Clinician
  • Tribal Health Representative

12 individual facility representatives from:

  • Four Prospective Payment System (PPS) Hospitals
  • Six Critical Access Hospitals (CAH)/Rural Emergency Hospitals (REH), including:
    • Two owned by or affiliated with a PPS hospital
    • Four independent, non-affiliated or owned CAH or REH facilities
  • Two Federally Qualified Health Centers

To complete the Council, DPHHS Director Charlie Brereton will appoint the remaining 10 members, five of whom will be non-voting.

The Director will appoint these five voting members:

  • Two Department representatives
  • Three legislators

Five additional non-voting members will also be appointed at the Director’s discretion:

  • Statewide hospital organization representative
  • Statewide primary care organization representative
  • Health care facility owned organization/professional network representative
  • Two health insurance carrier representatives

How Participation Works

  • Advisory role: Stakeholders provide input on CoE goals, initiatives, and implementation strategies. This may include prioritization of recommendations, developing further detailed guidance for recommendations, i.e., according to facility type or population type, and supporting strategic planning for the CoE by providing guidance and feedback.
    • Members also serve as champions of the CoE to their constituents of the organizations and communities they represent. This includes supporting facility recruitment and engagement efforts as well as ongoing outreach and education to participating and partnering organizations.
    • The Department will retain final authority over all funding decisions.
  • Public comment: All meetings will be subject to public meeting laws with designated time on each agenda for public comment. Open sessions allow community members and interested parties to share feedback directly with the Advisory Council.
  • Commitment expectations: The Department anticipates the meeting schedule to be quarterly, with the potential for monthly meetings as needed. Meetings will be hybrid with in-person and remote attendance options, with in-person attendance highly recommended and encouraged. The Advisory Council is currently scheduled to terminate in late 2028.

Why it Matters

The CoE Advisory Council helps ensure that the program’s priorities reflect the unique needs of Montana’s diverse rural and tribal communities, and that implementation is both effective and sustainable.

How to Apply

To be considered for the Advisory Council, complete an application. Select the Advisory Council position you are applying for, complete the application form, and submit a resume and cover letter outlining your qualifications and interest in serving. The application window opens April 30 and closes at 11:59 p.m. on May 22, 2026. The Department plans to make selections by June 15.

Please ensure that your resume and cover letter documents include your first and last names in the following file name format: LastFirstresume and LastFirstcoverletter. Your documents must follow this naming format, or your application may not be considered.

Example: SmithJoeresume and SmithJoecoverletter

Include why you want to serve on the Advisory Council and how your background and qualifications apply.

Letters Regarding Creation of Council

Letter from Director Brereton to Governor Greg Gianforte requesting approval of the Council:

Letter from Governor Greg Gianforte approving creation of the Council: