Welcome to the Oklahoma Rise 25 and 25 RHTP Weekly Intelligence Brief for March 8–14, 2026. Produced by the Oklahoma Rise 25 and 25 Foundation and directed by Dr. Keeley John Booth, Co-Founder and Chief Executive Director, this episode cuts through the noise to deliver the week’s most consequential signals for Oklahoma’s Rural Health Transformation Program (RHTP).

This episode covers four material developments and one imminent decision: the Oklahoma House passage of House Bill 3975 (creating the statutory framework for RHTP and a dedicated revolving fund) and House Bill 3976 (establishing the Rural and Small Hospital Grant Program); Oklahoma State University’s public announcement of a $10M+ RHTP-funded Community Paramedicine expansion across 30 counties (the first confirmed flow of RHTP dollars to an implementing partner); CMS’s March 12 update posting the RHT Program Reporting and Rescoring webinar (federal reporting and rescoring guidance for approved states); and the near-term OHCA Rural PACE first-round provider selection announcement scheduled for March 16, 2026.

We walk listeners through the legislative details of HB 3975 and HB 3976 — the revolving fund architecture, mandated interagency Memoranda of Understanding (MOUs), reporting requirements, an online transparency dashboard, and an emergency clause — and explain why those provisions create durable statutory oversight and urgency as the bills move to the Oklahoma Senate.

The episode outlines the practical significance of the OSU Community Paramedicine initiative: scope (30 counties over five years), funding (more than $10 million in this announced tranche against a $31.475M five-year allocation), program design (200 additional training hours for certified community paramedics, in-home chronic disease management in ambulance deserts), and pilot context (Delaware County). We highlight this as the first active disbursement channel from OSDH to a subrecipient and a signal that implementation is underway.

On federal alignment, we summarize CMS’s reporting/rescoring guidance posted March 12 and explain why OSDH and legislative staff must reconcile state statutory reporting requirements with federal compliance obligations. We also flag national guidance from advisory firm Forvis Mazars clarifying RHTP spending caps (administration <10%, infrastructure <20%, provider payments <15%) and the reported HRSA withdrawal of a Rural PACE planning grant from grants.gov.

On funding and procurement intelligence, we report no new public RFPs/NOFOs on state pages during the coverage window, note that at least one subaward stream is active via cooperative agreement (OSU), and reiterate the year-one award figures: approximately $223.5M allocated for FY2026 (about $202M currently accessible, ~ $21M under CMS review). We also explain the strategic interplay between RHTP funds and broader Medicaid fiscal pressures facing Oklahoma.

This brief concludes with time-sensitive actions and events to monitor: the March 16 OHCA Rural PACE provider selection announcement; Senate referral and committee activity for HB 3975/3976 (expected by ~March 26); OSDH April roadshows in Woodward (April 15) and Chickasha (April 16) and an April 21 Touchpoint webinar; the Rural Health Association of Oklahoma abstract deadline (March 22); and national forums such as the NPA Spring Policy Forum (March 23–24). We provide a focused watch list for stakeholders and recommended engagement steps.

Key takeaway: Oklahoma’s RHTP moved decisively from planning to implementation this week — legislative architecture is crystallizing, federal compliance guidance requires alignment, RHTP dollars have begun reaching communities, and the PACE provider selections due March 16 will materially shape rural elder-care infrastructure. If you operate in targeted counties or are tracking the bills, this is the moment to engage directly, attend roadshows and webinars, and ensure leadership is execution-ready.