MARC JACOBS
Hutch Post
Kansas Awarded Nearly $222 Million in Federal Funding to Transform Rural Health Care
Kansas will receive nearly $222 million in federal funding to strengthen and modernize rural health care systems, following the Trump Administration’s announcement of first-year awards under the Rural Health Transformation Program.
On Monday, U.S. Senator Roger Marshall praised the allocation of $221,898,008 to Kansas, calling it a generational investment in rural communities and a major win for families, hospitals, and health care providers across the state.
The Rural Health Transformation Program, established under Republicans’ Working Families Tax Cuts legislation, represents the largest federal investment in rural health care in U.S. history. The program is designed to expand access to care, strengthen the rural health workforce, modernize facilities and technology, and bring innovative models of care closer to home.
“Access to quality health care shouldn’t depend on your zip code, and thanks to President Trump’s leadership, this historic investment will transform rural care for Kansas families,” Marshall said. “This funding will help keep hospitals open, recruit and retain providers, expand access to specialty care, and modernize critical infrastructure.”
According to Marshall’s office, Kansas funding will support projects aimed at strengthening the rural health workforce, investing in modern equipment and technology, supporting sustainable hospital operations in high-need areas, expanding access to primary, maternal, and specialty care, and developing innovative, rural-focused care delivery models.
U.S. Senator Jerry Moran also applauded the award, noting that Kansas will receive approximately $222 million for the first year of the five-year program, which begins in 2026. Moran helped establish the Rural Health Transformation Program through the Reconciliation Bill, signed into law on July 4.
“The Rural Health Transformation Program is a significant investment in rural health care and will help improve outcomes for struggling hospitals, invest in new technology, and bolster rural communities,” Moran said. He emphasized that the funding requires no state match and will be tailored to the specific needs of rural providers in Kansas.
Nationally, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services announced that all 50 states will receive awards under the $50 billion program, with $10 billion distributed annually from fiscal years 2026 through 2030. Kansas is among the top recipients, exceeded by only five other states.
Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. said the program is intended to ensure that rural Americans have access to affordable, high-quality care close to home, while CMS Administrator Mehmet Oz called the funding an extraordinary milestone for rural health in America.
Governor Laura Kelly confirmed Kansas’ award and said the funding will fundamentally change health care delivery in rural communities statewide.
“This funding for Kansas will go a long way in fundamentally changing the health care delivery system for rural communities across the state,” Kelly said, thanking state agencies and partners involved in developing Kansas’ application.
The Kansas Department of Health and Environment will serve as the lead agency for the grant, coordinating with stakeholders across the state. Kansas’ plan focuses on five key initiatives: expanding primary and secondary prevention programs, securing local access to primary care, building a sustainable rural health workforce, enabling value-based care, and harnessing data and technology.
Kansas submitted its application to CMS on Nov. 3. State officials say additional details on implementation timelines and next steps will be shared as the program moves forward.