(KAIR)--Kansas is receiving nearly 226-million dollars in additional federal funding to improve health care access in rural communities across the state.
In separate announcements Monday, Governor Laura Kelly and U.S. Senator Jerry Moran confirmed the state has been awarded more than 225-point-8-million dollars for the second year of the Rural Health Transformation Program, an increase of approximately 4-million dollars over last year.
For the second consecutive year, Kansas is receiving the sixth-largest award in the nation.
The funding will support rural hospitals, clinics and other health care providers, with an emphasis on improving facilities, expanding services, upgrading medical technology and addressing workforce shortages.
Several new initiatives are planned for the second year, including a transportation assistance program designed to help rural Kansans get to medical appointments.
Another program will provide Alzheimer's disease education, community resources and care consultations for rural residents and their families.
The state will also continue offering grants to support regional health care partnerships, facility improvements, medical equipment and emerging technology.
Moran, who helped establish the federal program in 2025, says the funding is intended to address the unique challenges facing rural health care providers and make long-term improvements in technology, staffing and equipment.
Kelly says the additional resources will build on efforts to improve the quality of and access to health care in rural Kansas.
Kansas received approximately 222-million dollars during the program's first year, including nearly 99-million dollars in grants for rural health care providers and community partners.
The 50-billion-dollar federal Rural Health Transformation Program is administered by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, with the Kansas Department of Health and Environment overseeing implementation at the state level.
The program's second year began October 31 and continues through October of 2027.
