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Ohio Receives Federal Funding through the Rural Health Transformation Program

  • Groundwork Ohio
  • 1 hour ago
  • 3 min read

The Federal Rural Health Transformation (RHT) Program was created under HR 1, the federal tax and spending reconciliation law signed by President Trump in July 2025. The program, overseen by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), was established to help offset Medicaid cuts impacting rural communities, which face some of the greatest existential threats under $911 billion in federal Medicaid spending cuts over the next 10 years. While the $50 billion budgeted for RHT funds are not a full replacement of lost dollars, this program offers an opportunity to stabilize rural health systems, expand access to care, invest in infrastructure, and support long-term sustainability. 

 

The Ohio Department of Health, along with entities in all 50 states, submitted an application for RHT funds after seeking public feedback. During the public feedback period, Groundwork Ohio provided comment to the Ohio Department of Health on October 3, 2025, emphasizing the importance of rural health innovations that are tailored to meet the needs of infants, toddlers, and their families in underserved areas of the state. Highlights of top priorities for young children and families identified by Groundwork Ohio are below with full comments linked above. 

 

RHT priority area 1: Make Rural America Healthy Again 

  • Groundwork Ohio recommendations: (1) Increase support for lead prevention programs, (2) improve access to home visiting programs and community hubs providing safe and effective prenatal care, (3) improve Medicaid coverage for eligible women and children, (4) offer targeted resources that support meeting the basic needs of residents in rural areas. 

RHT priority area 2: Sustainable Access 

  • Groundwork Ohio recommendations: (1) Enhance care coordination in high-need rural ZIP codes, (2) improve rural transportation networks (including non-emergency transport). 

RHT priority area 3: Workforce Development 

  • Groundwork Ohio recommendations: (1) fund trainings to increase availability of community health workers (CHWs) and paraprofessionals, (2) offer financial incentives that increase rural health workforce growth. 

RHT priority area 4: Innovative Care 

  • Groundwork Ohio recommendations: (1) Increase home visiting access, (2) increase housing supports for pregnant mothers, (3) prioritize lead abatement in homes built before 1978. 

RHT priority area 5: Tech Innovation 

  • Groundwork Ohio recommendations: Expand perinatal telehealth services. 

RHT priority area 6: Other Activities 

  • Groundwork Ohio recommendations: (1) Create a pilot of administrative practices that minimize unnecessary Medicaid churn for young children ages 0-3 who are eligible for Medicaid coverage but at risk of disenrollment due to administrative barriers. 

 

These priorities reflect alignment with broader statewide efforts to reduce maternal mortality and morbidity, improve birth outcomes, and reduce infant mortality and chronic childhood conditions with solutions tailored specifically to the needs of families living in rural areas.  

 

Included within the final project narrative submitted by the Ohio Department of Health are suggestions to improve maternal and infant wellness – specifically (1) access to high quality home visiting services to improve outcomes for pregnant women and children in rural communities, (2) addressing maternity care deserts with legislative changes and supports to rural hospitals to add quality, low-cost birthing centers. 

 

All 50 states received RHT funding, with Ohio’s first-year award approved for just over $202 million – the 25th highest total amount. While these funds create opportunities to sustain rural health access in the wake of challenging budget cuts, it is notable to consider this equates to less than $100 per rural resident given Ohio’s substantial rural territories. 

 

Interested in learning more?  

 

 

 

 

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