RURAL HEALTH TRANSFORMATION

In June 2026, the Michigan Health Improvement Alliance was awarded a $1.5 million subaward to lead the Central Michigan Regional Care Collaborative — a new cross-sector effort to strengthen healthcare access and coordination across 10 rural and partially-rural counties: Allegan, Arenac, Barry, Bay, Gratiot, Midland, Montcalm, Osceola, Saginaw, and Shiawassee.

Rural communities across our region face real, structural barriers to staying healthy — long distances to care, workforce shortages, and coordination that too often breaks down between the providers, health departments, and community organizations families already rely on. The Collaborative’s early focus is chronic disease prevention and management, with particular attention to diabetes and hypertension, and on strengthening the referral networks that connect rural residents to care closer to home.

MiHIA’s role here is the one it has played for more than 15 years: bringing health systems, public health agencies, employers, and community partners to the same table to build coordinated, evidence-based solutions, rather than new programs built in isolation.

“Rather than creating new programs in isolation, we will bring together healthcare providers, public health agencies, employers, community organizations, and local leaders to build a coordinated approach to chronic disease prevention and management. By leveraging the strengths that already exist within our communities, we can improve health outcomes, reduce barriers to care, and create lasting change for rural residents.”

— Heidi Tracy, CEO, Michigan Health Improvement Alliance

Funded by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services through the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services’ Rural Health Transformation Program.

This page is just the starting point. As the Central Michigan Regional Care Collaborative comes together, this page will grow alongside it — with new partners, milestones, and stories to share. Check back as the work takes shape.