Nebraska will receive more than $218 million in federal funding aimed at strengthening rural health care, following an award announced by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS).
Governor Jim Pillen said Nebraska was selected for the funding through the Rural Health Transformation Program, a $50 billion federal initiative designed to modernize and expand rural health care systems nationwide.
According to the governor’s office, Nebraska will receive $218.5 million in the first year of a five-year grant, ranking as the eighth-largest award among states.
The funding will be administered by the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services, which plans to build a prevention-focused, technology-enabled rural health care system. The initiative is expected to address chronic disease, regionalize care, and help fill workforce gaps in rural communities.
Nebraska-DHHS CEO Steve Corsi said the department will begin work immediately with rural health providers to strengthen infrastructure and access to care across the state.
Federal officials said the program is intended to give rural hospitals, clinics, and health workers greater control over local health care delivery and improve access for rural residents.
For more information on the Rural Health Transformation Program, visit cms.gov.