The future of rural healthcare hinges on high-speed broadband access

Earlier in 2025, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services announced the multibillion-dollar Rural Health Transformation Program — an initiative that aims to redesign healthcare delivery in rural communities across America.  Tech innovation is one of six core strategic goals of the program, with a focus on building “access to remote care.” In 2025, connectivity is as fundamental to healthcare delivery as medical equipment and exam rooms. With rural hospitals closing, healthcare costs increasing, and travel times growing for in-person care, much of this new program's success will rely on patients and providers having reliable, affordable, high-speed internet. Without universal broadband access, affordable computers or tablets, and knowledge of how to use this technology, we risk squandering this critical investment and deepening the very disparities the program seeks to eliminate. The issue is simple. No internet means both patients and providers can’t access electronic health records, remote patient monitoring, or participate in telehealth appointments. When rural families must drive to library parking lots to catch a Wi-Fi signal, virtual care isn't an option — it's an impossibility. Research shows that telehealth reduces hospital readmissions and improves follow-up appointment adherence, but these benefits evaporate without reliable connectivity.