Governor Greg Abbott announced that the Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) plans to award $78 million in Rural Texas Strong grants to 216 rural healthcare providers throughout the state.
“Every Texan deserves access to high-quality healthcare, no matter where they live,” said Governor Abbott. “This $78 million investment will help rural healthcare providers strengthen facilities, address chronic diseases, and recruit and retain the next generation of healthcare professionals.”
The awards are part of an investment of an estimated $1.4 billion in federal funding over five years to improve rural healthcare throughout the state.
“Rural providers know their communities best, and these investments will help them address local needs and strengthen care for the Texans they serve,” said HHS Executive Commissioner Stephanie Muth. “By supporting locally driven solutions, we are helping more Texans access quality care closer to home.”
Funding announced will advance the following Rural Texas Strong initiatives: -The “Make Rural Texans Healthy Again” initiative helps rural hospital districts improve health outcomes and chronic disease conditions such as diabetes, cardiovascular disease, chronic respiratory disease or obesity.
-The “Next Generation of the Small Town Doctor and Team” initiative supports rural communities in recruiting, training and retaining physicians, emergency medical professionals and other health care workers.
-The “Infrastructure and Capital Investments for Rural Texas” initiative supports rural healthcare providers by replacing aging medical equipment and improving existing facilities.
HHSC will continue to announce its intent to award funding on a weekly basis as applications are reviewed across the Rural Texas Strong initiatives. Funding will be available after contracts are finalized.
The $78,089,434 is a portion of the $281,319,360 first year award HHSC received from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) Rural Health Transformation Program.
Rural Texas Strong, the CMS-approved state plan, is 100% federally funded through the Rural Health Transformation Program. Federal funding is contingent upon meeting all applicable program requirements.