That's according to a release from Governor Laura Kelly announcing the award from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services for the first year of the Rural Health Transformation Program. The funding will strengthen rural hospitals and clinics, expand access to care, and improve health outcomes in underserved communities, according to the release.
Kelly says the award reflects the quality of Kansas’ application and the collaboration of state agencies and health leaders. The Kansas Department of Health and Environment will oversee the program, working with rural health stakeholders statewide.
The plan focuses on five priorities, including expanding prevention programs, securing local access to primary care, building a sustainable rural health workforce, enabling value-based care, and improving the use of data and technology.
U.S. Senator Jerry Moran also praised the funding in a separate release, with the Kansas Republican noting the state will receive one of the largest allocations in the nation through the program, created through the Reconciliation Bill, which requires no state match and is designed to help struggling rural providers.
The funding is part of a five-year program, with money to be distributed in 2026.
