In December, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) announced the amounts awarded to states through their historic $50 billion investment in rural health care. Included in the transformational Working Families Tax Cut Act passed by Senate Republicans andsigned into law last year, the Rural Health Transformation Program will allow communities across country to improve health care outcomes by modernizing care delivery and expanding access to rural health care services.
Oklahoma has been awarded a massive $223,476,949 for 2026– the first award for the state in the 5-year program.
U.S. Senator Markwayne Mullin (R-OK), a member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee, applauded the initiative and monumental win for Oklahoma:
“I grew up in rural Oklahoma and the rural health care system. Rural hospitals and health care providers are the backbone of this nation, and we must continue to support these entities to ensure that patients have access to high quality health care services,” said Senator Mullin. “Through the Working Families Tax Cut Act, Senate Republicans secured the largest federal investment in rural health care in American HISTORY. This initiative will significantly strengthen our system and boost rural clinics and hospitals across the state.”
Background:
The Oklahoma State Department of Health’s plan to build a lasting health ecosystem across Rural Oklahoma (as seen here on pg. 57):
- Innovating the care model: This initiative seeks to improve healthcare access and outcomes through modernized care delivery (Make Rural America Healthy Again, Technology Innovation).
- Moving upstream: This initiative seeks to promote preventive healthcare and address root causes of disease through innovative care delivery and technology (Make Rural America Healthy Again, Innovative Care, Technology Innovation).
- Facilitating regional collaboration: This initiative seeks to strengthen provider infrastructure and enhance local and regional partnerships (Sustainable Access, Innovative Care).
- Shifting to value: This initiative seeks to improve outcomes and financial sustainability through value-based care models (Sustainable Access, Innovative Care).
- Growing the next generation of rural talent: This initiative seeks to improve the pool of rural talent and subsequent healthcare access (Workforce Development).
- Building health data utility: This initiative seeks to improve efficient, data-driven care delivery (Technology Innovation). OSDH attests to proposing at least 3 approved uses of funds, as stipulated by the Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO), across the initiatives above.
For additional information from Governor Stitt’s Office, click here.
