Officials from the Wyoming Department of Health will be crossing the state in the coming weeks as they seek the public’s input on how to improve health care. That includes hosting a town hall meeting in Powell on Thursday, Sept. 18, where they’ll gather input on “rural health care challenges, strengths and opportunities.”

The department intends to eventually apply for funding through the federal government’s new Rural Health Transformation Program, which was created as a part of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA). The program offers Wyoming “a significant opportunity to strengthen rural health care through sustainable, innovative and transformative solutions,” the department says.

If the state puts together a successful application — and the federal government approves — Wyoming could receive between $500 million and $800 million over the next five years.

The funding is aimed at priorities like:

• chronic disease prevention and behavioral health;

• sustaining access to care in rural communities;

• innovative approaches to care delivery and payment models;

• workforce development and training;

• technological and consumer health solutions; and

• IT advances and technical assistance.

The upcoming public meetings are intended to “ensure Wyoming’s proposal reflects the needs of Wyoming’s rural communities,” the department says.

“Wyoming’s rural communities understand better than anyone how the state can best support them,” Stefan Johansson, director of the Wyoming Department of Health, said in a statement. “Local voices will guide us in identifying where investments make the most difference and how the state can play a constructive role in making the most of this unique opportunity.”

The local town hall is to begin at noon on Sept. 18 at Powell City Hall (270 N. Clark St.) in the city council chamber.

Other public meetings are slated in Buffalo, Newcastle, Wheatland, Lander, Evanston, Saratoga and Laramie between Sept. 12 and Oct. 2. All are set for the noon hour or evenings in an effort to maximize public participation, the department says.

For those who can’t make one of the in-person sessions, two virtual options are being offered:

• 10 a.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 23 (visit meet.google.com/gqu-paht-diq, or call 302-307-2512 and enter the PIN 120-291-436#); and

• 2 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 25 (visit meet.google.com/kvd-jvuj-trh or call 567-318-2835 with the PIN 308-348-722#).

The department also plans to release a statewide, online survey this fall to collect more input and help refine Wyoming’s priorities for the application. For information, visit health.wyo.gov/admin/rural-health-transformation-program.