Healthcare Asks Highlight ARPA Funding Proposals

Wyoming Governor Mark Gordon’s Strike Team is evaluating more than $3 billion in proposals to spend money given to the state from the federal government through the American Rescue Plan (ARPA). ARPA rules require all funds be obligated by the end of 2024 and spent by 2026.

“ARPA will bring in over $1 billion, and there will be infrastructure bill dollars coming in too,” points out House Speaker Eric Barlow. “The key is what do we do in terms of long term investment? Maybe we patch some holes, but looking for sustainability as well.

“Sometimes it is easier when things are short when you can say there is nothing at the well. But right now, some are saying drain the well, and others are saying build the well higher. It’s a challenge.”

A large chunk of those proposals has come from Governor Gordon’s Healthcare Task Force and could make a large impact on the state’s healthcare system.

Governor Gordon set up the Health Care Task Force by soliciting representatives of organizations who work in public health, as well as consumer groups (which includes representatives from AARP Wyoming) in 2020 to determine available services for healthcare in Wyoming; determine service priorities; factors in the high cost of healthcare, and what solutions might be available to provide affordable access to high-risk populations. Jen Davis is the Governor’s Healthcare Advisor and has been leading the Task Force’s work. She says coordination and intentional relationship-building will be key in the task force’s efforts.

“There are many efforts happening in our communities that impact health care in Wyoming, but often those efforts are not coordinated,” Davis says. “This is a challenge in our large state. Additionally, it has become clear that we need to focus on primary care and community supports so that residents have access to getting their ‘basic needs’ met.

After two years of meeting, and a large amount of available funds through the ARPA, the Task Force is forwarding a list of projects it believes will better healthcare in Wyoming to the Legislature. Those proposals include:

$100 million for a Health Care Commission and a Health Trust Fund, which will make recommendations on health care projects using interest accrued from the $100 million.

$90 million account to help build and upgrade hospitals, community mental health centers, and long term care facilities in the state.

$50 million would go towards a health and human services innovation fund, advancing technology and new ideas in the areas of telehealth, rural health, mental health, long term care and more.

$15 million to offer temporary funds to sustain Emergency Medical Services in the state while the Task Force works on more permanent solutions.

$9.8 million to develop a series of Resource Centers and to build capacity to the state’s 2-1-1 system.

$3 million would help the state develop a telepsychiatry application for phones which would allow Wyomingites to dial in to receive mental health treatment.

$84,000 for a standardized Emergency Medical Dispatch curriculum and training for 9-1-1 response centers.

“From AARP Wyoming’s perspective, we are very supportive of most of these proposals, but especially excited about the resource centers,” says AARP Wyoming State Director Sam Shumway. “Currently, Wyoming is the only state in the Union without these resources that have proved effective in helping citizens find services in their area.”

Resource Centers are being proposed as a manner of establishing regional areas and champions who understand the resources in their part of the state and can connect Wyoming citizens with everything from home service providers for seniors to helping find mental health services for kids and everything in-between.

“The concept of Family Resource Centers is a part of the health and human services landscape for ensuring that individuals have a meaningful connection to resources,” Davis says. “The benefit of a coordinated resource network within communities allows individuals to have a “one stop shop” for receiving assistance related to health care, food insecurity, mental health, childcare, aging services and the list goes on.”

The proposals will now go to the Wyoming Legislature’s Joint Appropriations Committee, which will vett the proposal and send them through the state budgeting process to the full Legislature and ultimately, to the Governor.

“I don’t mind reassessing some of the reductions made, but we would need to reassess with our mind on sustainability,” he says. “We don’t want to provide a specific service someone needs and take it away. “