Kansas Governor Laura Kelly announces that the state is taking steps to develop an application for the $50 billion Rural Health Transformation Program.

 

The Rural Health Transformation Program is administered by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services or C-M-S and aims to strengthen rural communities by improving the quality of and access to health care. Of the $50 billion authorized by the program, $25 billion will be distributed evenly among states with approved applications, while the remaining $25 billion will be allocated based on criteria outlined by C-M-S.

 

Kelly is forming the Kansas Rural Health Innovation Alliance to develop and implement the state’s plan to apply for a share of this funding. Kansas must submit its application by November 5, and CMS will announce funding awards by December 31.

 

Kelly stated that while  the funds will not make up for the federal cuts to the Medicaid program, these resources will allow the state to make fundamental changes to the rural health care system to protect rural Kansans’ access to health care near their homes.