BATON ROUGE — Gov. Jeff Landry has appointed Veneeth Iyengar, executive director of ConnectLA, to the Louisiana Rural Health Transformation Program Advisory Council.

The council was created following an executive order Landry signed in April establishing the Office of Rural Health Transformation and Sustainability within the Louisiana Department of Health.

The office will lead the implementation of Louisiana's Rural Health Transformation Program, backed by federal funding of approximately $208 million. Louisiana's award is among the highest in the nation and positions the state to secure more than $1 billion in total funding over the next five years.

The council will provide strategic guidance and stakeholder engagement related to program reporting requirements. It will also help ensure rural health initiatives align with statewide priorities and local needs while supporting transparency, accountability and coordination in grant investments.

Bruce D. Greenstein, secretary of the LDH, said in a prepared statement that the council reflects a commitment to expanding access and improving care in rural communities.

"Building a stronger, more sustainable rural health system means expanding access, improving care and recognizing the critical role technology and innovation will play in transforming how health care is delivered in rural communities," Greenstein said. 

Iyengar said reliable broadband is a critical foundation for the work ahead.

"At ConnectLA, we know reliable broadband is more than infrastructure—it is a critical foundation for transforming healthcare in rural Louisiana," Iyengar said. "I look forward to working alongside Gov. Landry, the Louisiana Department of Health and my fellow advisory council members to strengthen healthcare access and build a healthier, more sustainable future for rural Louisiana."

Nearly 1.1 million Louisianans live in rural parishes with limited access to healthcare and significant healthcare workforce shortages.

The Office of Rural Health Transformation and Sustainability, with support from the RHTP Advisory Council, will coordinate statewide efforts to expand healthcare in those areas and strengthen rural health infrastructure.