Louisiana Invests in Rural Health Tech Startups to Improve Outcomes

The state of Louisiana aims to improve outcomes in rural areas by attracting and investing in health tech startups, according to KFF Health News. The state is among several — including Delaware, Georgia, Massachusetts, Nebraska, South Carolina, Virginia and West Virginia — seeking to transform healthcare delivery in rural areas through health tech catalyst funds.

Innovation Funding, Healthcare Infrastructure Solutions, and Real-World Pilot Opportunities

Louisiana’s rural parishes have almost 1.1 million residents, and the state has self-identified as the least healthy in the nation, with high rates of cardiovascular disease, diabetes and obesity, KFF reports. The state’s innovation department aims to improve that status by allocating $20 million per year for five years to invest in health tech startups.

While the area hasn’t historically been popular with technology companies, the catalyst fund has attracted more than 200 startups competing for seed money. Examples include Greens Health, which analyzes Medicare claims to identify patients with chronic diseases and improve care, and Caret Health, which offers a tech platform for identifying and assisting patients who need help picking up prescriptions, traveling to appointments or completing scans. These companies have noted a need among hospitals in rural areas for these types of solutions and infrastructure, compared to larger health systems in other areas that often already have competing solutions in place.

Josh Fleig, Louisiana’s chief innovation officer, told KFF that the state has become a prime location for Silicon Valley companies looking to test new technologies. The state is also taking an equity stake in each company it invests in, with the hope of re-investing the financial resources it gains.

The Bottom Line for Hospitals and Health Systems

In states where health tech catalyst funds are attracting startups, rural providers can explore opportunities to partner with those companies to improve care delivery through new technologies.

To explore proven strategies and solutions to strengthen care delivery in rural areas, join us at the AHA Rural Healthcare Leadership Conference. The 2027 conference will take place from January 31 to February 3 in Orlando —SAVE YOUR SPOT TODAY.