Advisory Committee
The Rural Health Transformation Advisory Committee (RHT-AC) serves as a bridge between communities and state government by providing feedback and recommendations on program implementation. The RHT-AC is not a decision-making body. However, it is intentionally positioned to make sure the RHT Program is meeting needs on the ground in rural Washington, and to give input to state leadership on policy and regulatory alignment that can support rural health improvements beyond the life of the grant.
The committee is a cross-sector body that advises and provides guidance to the RHTP Executive Governance Group. It brings together representatives from across Washington’s rural health system and communities, ensuring that investments and priorities are informed by the diverse perspectives of those delivering and receiving care in rural Washington.
Members were recruited through an open and competitive application process and selected by an inter-agency review panel. Tribal delegates were reviewed and selected in consultation with the Governor's Indian Health Advisory Council and American Indian Health Commission. Committee members will serve an initial two-year term, with the possibility to extend.
The Advisory Committee also has five seats for representatives from state agencies: Health Care Authority (HCA), Department of Health (DOH), Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS), Office of Financial Management (OFM) and the Governor’s Office. These representatives have an important role to play by sharing information about relevant work underway (or in the pipeline) with their respective agencies, providing important context from broader dialogues with state leaders, and helping to be a connector to appropriate follow-up when needed.
Washington RHTP Advisory Committee Members
| Representing | Name (County, Organization) |
|---|---|
| Tribal delegates (2 positions) |
Councilwoman Dayna Seymour (Okanogan, Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation) Sarah Sullivan (Skagit, Swinomish Indian Tribal Community) |
| Rural hospitals | Tyson Lacy (Lincoln, Lincoln Hospital District No. 3) |
| Local health jurisdictions (LHJs) | James Wallace (Okanogan County Public Health District & Chelan Douglas Health District) |
| Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs) | Carl Olden (Yakima, Community Health of Central Washington) |
| Behavioral health providers | Julia Mackaronis (Grays Harbor, Roger Saux Health Center) |
| Allied health professionals | Devon Woodley (Ferry, Ferry County Public Hospital District) |
| Medical professionals | Bindu Nayak (Douglas, Washington State Medical Association) |
| Labor organizations | Centra Pickens (Pierce, SEIU 1199 NW Healthcare Multi-Employer Training Fund) |
| Area Agencies on Aging | Laura Cepoi (Jefferson, Olympic Area Agency on Aging |
| Community – Eastern WA (2 positions) |
Deb Miller (Douglas, Community Choice dba Action Health Partners) Jessica Whitehawk (Yakima, Ttáwaxt Birth Justice Center) |
| Community – Western WA (1 position) | Adria Williams (Clallam, Forks Community Hospital) |
| Agency representatives (5 positions) |
Priya Helweg (Health Care Authority) Heather Drummond (Department of Health) Lori Pfingst (Department of Social and Health Services) Arnel Blancas (Office of Financial Management) Caitlin Safford (Governor’s Office) |
Based on OFM rural area definitions
Points of contact
Molly Biehl, Access to Care Advisory Strategist
Gina Legaz, Director of Policy & Performance, Office of Government and Community Affairs
This webpage is supported by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) as part of a financial assistance award totaling $181,257,515.06 to the Washington State Health Care Authority with 100 percent funded by CMS/HHS. The contents are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the official views of, nor an endorsement by, CMS/HHS or the U.S. Government.