Supporting Our Region

The South Central Telehealth Resource Center (SCTRC) and the Rural Health Association of Arkansas (RHAA) have been long-time collaborators, uniting under the common goal of increasing health care access for every Arkansan! The SCTRC supports the RHAA in part each year by attending and exhibiting at their Annual Summit. This gives our team a chance to connect with our RHAA colleagues in-person and educate attendees on our valuable resources, assistance, and education!

The 2026 RHAA Annual Summit was held on February 26–27, 2026, at the Marriott Little Rock. This two-day event brought together state and national policy leaders to discuss the most pressing legislative and regulatory issues impacting rural providers and facilities. Attendees gained valuable insights into emerging policies, innovative solutions, and advocacy strategies driving healthcare access and equity across rural communities. The Summit provided a unique opportunity to connect with lawmakers, peers, and thought leaders dedicated to advancing rural health policy.

The first day of the 2026 RHAA Annual Summit focused on numerous topics essential to improving rural health care access. One of these topics is, of course, legislation! Opening the floor was a discussion with Arkansas US Representative Bruce Westerman who gave a congressional perspective on how we lead rural health care forward. Additionally Brock Slabach, Vice President of the National Rural Health Association elaborated on rural health policy in a changing federal landscape. University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences Chancellor, Dr. Lowry Barnes, discussed the vision of UAMS leadership on advancing rural health in Arkansas. This was a fantastic precursor to the panel discussion, “Arkansas Rural Health Transformation: Strategy & Implementation” including Jim Hudson, Secretary, Arkansas Department of Finance and Administration; Janet Mann, Secretary, Arkansas Department of Human Services; David Long, Senior Manager, BDO, Arkansas Rural Health Transformation Program; and Brad Nye, Director, Arkansas Rural Health Transformation Program, Department of Finance & Administration. The initial day of the conference concluded with Dr. Sherry Turner, Associate Dean of GME/CME/DIO, Arkansas College of Osteopathic Medicine; Dr. Amanda Deel, Assistant Dean of Academic Affairs, NYIT College of Osteopathic Medicine at Arkansas State University; Dr. Brian Jones, Vice Chancellor of Regional Programs at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences; and Dr. Jessica Atrio, MD, MSc, Associate Dean Clinical Research, Alice Walton School of Medical as they advocated for the focus on training the next generation of Arkansas physicians. Lastly, attendees were able to listen to a lively discussion from Arkansas State Representatives Howard Beaty, Mary Bentley, Lee Johnson, Aaron Pilkington, and Senator Ben Gilmore regarding the state of legislative leadership as it impacts rural health.

We weren’t sure how the RHAA was going to top such well-informed presentations from the first day, but we were keen to find out on the second day of the event! Opening remarks were followed by a topic everyone is dying to know more about: AI! Dr. Andrew Ibrahim, Professor at the University of Michigan and CCO of Viz.ai presented “Advancing Rural Health in Arkansas: The Power of AI Implementation” which had everyone energized for the morning! Following his discussion included a presentation from Charity Hallman, Senior Vice President, Hope Enterprise Corporation and  Jay Taylor, Partner and Attorney, Friday, Eldredge & Clark, LLP, about how to leverage new markets tax credits when attempting to solve financial hurdles in rural health transformation. In this same category was a panel presentation touching on how the Community Health Worker workforce in Arkansas needs advancement. Discussing the policies, payments, and practices that would make this possible included Cassie Cochran, Health Deputy Director, AR Department of Health; Judy Pile, Executive Director, Arkansas Community Health Worker Association; Dr. Pearl McElfish, Director, UAMS Institute for Community Health Innovation; and Rosalinda Medrano Green, Assistant Director, UAMS Institute for Community Health Innovation.

Our team was truly thrilled to support the Rural Health Association of Arkansas and to spend time with members of our community and region. We look forward to seeing all our colleagues and friends at next year’s event!

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Representing the South Central Telehealth Resource Center (SCTRC), Melony Stokes, Senior Director of Program Implementation, and Joe Schaffner, Project Manager, attended the event, engaging in discussions on rural healthcare advancements, telehealth integration, and strategies for improving access to care. Their presence highlights SCTRC’s commitment to bridging healthcare gaps through technology and innovative solutions.

The RHAA Summit reinforced the importance of collaboration among healthcare providers, telehealth experts, policymakers, and community organizations. With leaders like Melony Stokes and Joe Schaffner actively contributing on behalf of SCTRC, the event highlighted the growing role of telehealth and innovation in improving rural healthcare access.

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Target Audience

This conference is for anyone involved in telehealth! It focuses primarily on operational aspects of telehealth, including policy, billing, reimbursement, workflows, performance evaluation, best practices, training, technology optimization, and quality measurement. Whether or not you find exactly what you are looking for, you will definitely find friendly, knowledgeable, and helpful people working to advance telehealth in a variety of settings. There is always something for everyone!

Your Hosts – The Telehealth Resource Centers

TELEHEALTH EVERYWHERE! is hosted by three federally funded telehealth resource centers (TRCs). The Great Plains Telehealth Resource & Assistance Center covers six states (Minnesota, Wisconsin, Iowa, Nebraska, and North & South Dakota) and is located at the University of Minnesota. The Heartland Telehealth Resource Center, located at the University of Kansas Medical Center, aims to increase adoption of telehealth in order to better serve rural and underserved residents in Kansas, Missouri, and Oklahoma. The Upper Midwest Telehealth Resource Center is hosted by the Indiana Rural Health Association and serves Indiana, Ohio, Michigan, and Illinois.

This is the third year these TRCs have co-hosted this conference to build partnerships across the greater Midwest/Great Lakes region. All TRCs work to provide information and training for all aspects of telehealth with a focus on providers serving rural and underserved populations.

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This year’s NEXUS is more than an event—it’s a member-informed educational experience designed to spark collaboration, foster advanced insights into digital-first innovation, and drive meaningful change in care delivery.

Featuring:
Specialized educational tracks for digital health leaders
Hands-on workshops and real-world insights
Collaboration with leading health systems and forward-looking companies

Let’s deconstruct outdated care models, rebuild them with innovation and measurable results, and lead the next chapter in healthcare. #NEXUS2025

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Speakers Include:

• Barbara Rubino, MD, Associate Chief Medical Officer, Covered California
• Autumn Boylan, MPH, Deputy Director, California Department of Health Care Services
• Diana Camacho, MPH, Senior Program Officer, California Health Care Foundation
• Kate Davidson, LCSW, Director, Learning and Diffusion Group, Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation
• Crispin Delgado, MPP, Executive Director, Insure the Uninsured Project
• James Marcin, MD, MPH, Professor, Pediatric Critical Care, Director, Center for Health and Technology, UC Davis Health

• Sarah Rahman, MD, Chief Medical Information Officer, Alameda Health Systems

The event begins with continental breakfast at 9:30, includes lunch, panel discussions, and a Technology Showcase, and ends with a hosted networking reception at Cafeteria 15L from 5-6:30. This event is open to all attendees free of charge.

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This year’s conference will be held at the Sheraton Puerto Rico & Casino in San Juan, Puerto Rico.  Situated in the heart of San Juan’s vibrant Convention District, just steps from Distrito T-Mobile and 12 minutes away from the international airport SJU. Our convenient location also gives easy access to the nearby beach and Old San Juan, 5 minutes away.

Reserve your room today at the conference rate! (click link)

For more information about exhibiting and presenting at this conference, please email info@setrc.us for more details.

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Telehealth policies and regulations allowing for wide access to telehealth are set to expire by December 31 and could revert back to pre-pandemic restrictions and outdated limitations. But many of these policies are expected to be temporarily extended, potentially through 2026. The implications of this will be felt in all corners of the telehealth industry.

At the ATA EDGE 2024 Policy Conference, we’ll take a moment to celebrate our telehealth policy successes and keep a keen eye towards the new year and new state and federal policy challenges that will face our industry. This year’s event will bring into focus the dynamic nature of telehealth policy in an unpredictable political environment, as we build the forward-thinking strategies needed to continually pivot and adapt to evolving legislative priorities.

Join us to explore innovative approaches, anticipate future trends, and shape policies that will ensure the sustained growth and success of telehealth in an ever-changing healthcare landscape.

About ATA EDGE 2024

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Be part of the ultimate Telehealth Implementation Bootcamp, kicking off July 2024 in lively New Orleans!

Registration is free to individuals and organizations committed to an interactive, tailored, support experience. This 36-week interactive bootcamp will provide:

• Training & Technical Assistance
• Monthly Sessions with Subject Matter Experts
• Tools and Resources

Click below for more information about applying, kick-off details, program collaborators, and additional sponsor opportunities!

Learn More

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