Ohio Governor announces $200M aiming to strengthen rural health care
Ohio Governor Mike DeWine announced in a news release on Monday, December 29, 2025, that the state would be receiving more than $200 million to help strengthen health care across rural communities.
According to the release, the money comes from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services through the Rural Health Transformation Program.
Ohio's Rural Health Transformation Program proposal focuses on addressing barriers between rural Ohioans and accessible health care, aiming to build on existing state investments in order to:
- Expand care access in rural communities
- Strengthen rural health workforces
- Modernize facilities and technology
- Support high-quality and dependable models
According to the release, the state plans to use this funding to invest in more school-based health centers, expand the OhioSEE vision care program to more rural students and reduce infant mortality rates by expanding evidence-based home visiting models.
The state will also build out the Rural Healthcare Workforce Pipeline by creating partnerships between providers and educational institutions.
Additionally, Ohio plans to launch Rural Patient Health Innovation Hubs, which would partner hospitals, community health centers, behavioral health specialists and others to provide quality care to rural residents.
"We are so grateful to be awarded this funding so that more Ohioans can receive expanded access and enhanced quality to necessary health care," said Governor DeWine.
DeWine continued," Thank you, Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. and CMS Administrator Dr. Mehmet Oz for your support of Ohio's proposal. We are committed to working collaboratively with you and your teams to ensure these funds are fully utilized so rural Ohioans can live their healthiest lives. Thank you, Senator Husted and Senator Moreno for your continued work to invest in rural health care here in Ohio."
According to CNN, the program is expected to award $50 billion over five fiscal years.
Half of that money is to be split evenly among all 50 states. However, the other half is expected to be awarded through a point system based on a set of criteria.
Of the second half of funds, roughly 20% of it is based on a state's commitment to specific policy actions.
States will be rescored each year, and some funding could be taken back.
