🎉 OPA Awarded $2M to Lead Pharmacy Integration Effort in Ohio’s Rural Health Transformation Program

The Ohio Pharmacists Association (OPA) has been awarded the $2 million Rural Health Transformation Pharmacy Initiative Grant from the Ohio Department of Health to improve health outcomes in Ohio’s rural communities. Funded through Ohio’s Rural Health Transformation Program (RHTP)—a federally supported effort to strengthen healthcare delivery in rural areas—the grant will support pharmacy integration, workforce development, and expanded access to clinical services.

As a key partner in Ohio’s 73-county Rural Health Transformation Program, OPA will lead efforts to better connect rural pharmacies with the broader healthcare system, strengthen their role in team-based care, and expand patient access to pharmacist-provided services. This work will help ensure that rural Ohioans benefit from a more coordinated, accessible, and sustainable healthcare system.

Addressing Rural Healthcare Challenges 

Ohio is home to one of the largest rural populations in the Midwest. Rural residents often experience higher rates of chronic disease, including heart disease, diabetes, obesity, smoking-related illnesses, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Many rural communities also face ongoing shortages of primary care providers, dentists, and mental health professionals.  

To guide implementation of the RHTP Pharmacy program, OPA plans to collaborate with pharmacy leaders, health systems, federally qualified health centers, the State of Ohio Board of Pharmacy, Medicaid managed care organizations, the Council of Ohio Colleges of Pharmacy, CliniSync Health Information Exchange, rural healthcare providers, and patient representatives to train, launch, evaluate, and expand the RHTP program statewide.  

"Rural pharmacies already serve as trusted healthcare access points in their communities. Through this initiative, OPA has an opportunity to learn directly from our members and help build the support needed for pharmacists to provide more connected care across rural Ohio," said Myriam Shaw Ojeda, RPh, PharmD, MPH, OPA Director of Pharmacy Extension and Public Health Initiatives. 

Building a Statewide Rural Pharmacy Network 

The pharmacy strategy within Ohio’s RHT Program focuses on three core goals:

• Connecting pharmacies to CliniSync, Ohio’s health information exchange (HIE) 
• Expanding pharmacist-led clinical services 
• Integrating pharmacies into the broader healthcare system 

OPA’s long-term vision is to create a sustainable statewide rural pharmacy network that improves patient outcomes, medication safety, access to care, and healthcare system efficiency. The program is expected to begin with approximately $2 million in Year 1 funding, with the possibility of additional two-year funding extensions.

Statewide Needs Assessment and Pilot Sites 

OPA plans to conduct a comprehensive needs assessment across 73 Ohio counties to better understand pharmacy staffing capabilities, technology readiness, workflow needs, and clinical training priorities. 

Expanding Clinical Pharmacy Services 

The initiative also supports expansion of pharmacist-provided clinical services, including chronic disease management, remote physiologic monitoring, point-of-care testing and treatment, as well as medication safety interventions.  

Opportunities for Member Involvement 

OPA is encouraging pharmacists, pharmacy leaders, and other healthcare stakeholders to participate in the initiative through advisory committees, pilot programs, advocacy efforts, communications support, and training development. Pharmacists interested in becoming involved are encouraged to complete the upcoming needs assessment and begin evaluating staffing and operational readiness for participation in the program.  

“This award represents a transformational opportunity for rural healthcare in Ohio and a historic milestone for the Ohio Pharmacists Association. As the largest grant award in OPA’s history, the Rural Health Transformation Pharmacy Initiative recognizes the critical role pharmacy professionals play in advancing access to care, improving patient outcomes, and strengthening healthcare delivery in underserved communities. We are grateful for the opportunity to partner with healthcare leaders across the state to build innovative, sustainable models of care that better serve Ohio patients where they live,” said Sara Kilpatrick, OPA Chief Executive Officer. 

For additional information about the Rural Health Transformation Pharmacy Initiative, contact OPA at mshawojeda@ohiopharmacists.org.