State grabs nearly $200M in federal funding for rural health

(The Center Square) – As the federal government opens its coffers for rural health care initiatives across the country, Pennsylvania anticipates $193 million toward its goals.

The five-year Rural Health Transformation Plan aims to reduce the inequities in rural health care stemming from dwindling populations and providers, advancing age, and a prevalence of diseases of despair.

The funding comes out of July’s federal reconciliation bill, which allocated $50 billion toward a fund for a nationwide five-year grant program. Each state was eligible for up to $100 million, while those who met specific Health and Human Services criteria were eligible for up to $100 million in additional funding.

“The Trump Administration today announced the largest federal investment in rural healthcare in American history, which will deliver hundreds of millions of dollars in additional funding to Pennsylvania,” said U.S. Sen. Dave McCormick. “This significant investment, which I strongly advocated for through the Workin...