Ohio is set to receive $202 million in federal funding aimed at improving rural health care access. The funding comes from the Rural Health Transformation Fund, which was established by the Working Families Tax Cuts Act passed by Congress earlier this year and signed into law on July 4, 2025.
U.S. Senator Jon Husted played a key role in advocating for the creation of the fund to support Ohio’s rural hospitals. According to Husted, “Our rural health care providers are some of our communities’ literal lifeline, and having access to local care is the difference between life and death in emergency situations. This is a huge step in our mission to making Americans healthier, in addition to supporting these facilities that also commonly serve as the anchor employer in our small towns.”
The initial $202 million award marks the first of five anticipated installments from the Rural Health Transformation Fund over a five-year period. In total, Ohio expects to receive more than $1 billion through this program to strengthen rural health care services.
The new funds will build upon previous initiatives led by Governor Mike DeWine and then-Lieutenant Governor Husted by increasing investment in school-based health centers, aiming to improve primary care accessibility for people living in rural areas. Additional resources will go toward expanding dental, vision, and hearing services via mobile clinics.
Senator Husted also led a letter addressed to Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Administrator Dr. Mehmet Oz on December 19, 2025. Along with members of Ohio’s Congressional Delegation, he highlighted Ohio’s focus on investing in the health care workforce through partnerships that include high schools and medical schools. The letter encouraged collaboration among hospitals, community health centers, and family physicians.
Following passage of the bill establishing the fund, CEOs of Ohio’s rural hospitals expressed their appreciation for Husted’s support in a public letter. During the Senate’s August recess, Husted visited several rural hospitals across Ohio to discuss strategic use of these funds and explore further ways to assist these facilities.
