(The Center Square) – As the federal government opens its coffers for rural health care initiatives across the country, Pennsylvania anticipates $193 million toward its goals.
The five-year Rural Health Transformation Plan aims to reduce the inequities in rural health care stemming from dwindling populations and providers, advancing age, and a prevalence of diseases of despair.
The funding comes out of July’s federal reconciliation bill, which allocated $50 billion toward a fund for a nationwide five-year grant program. Each state was eligible for up to $100 million, while those who met specific Health and Human Services criteria were eligible for up to $100 million in additional funding.
“The Trump Administration today announced the largest federal investment in rural healthcare in American history, which will deliver hundreds of millions of dollars in additional funding to Pennsylvania,” said U.S. Sen. Dave McCormick. “This significant investment, which I strongly advocated for through the Working Families Tax Plan, will help Pennsylvania expand access to care and improve health outcomes, strengthen our rural health workforce, modernize facilities with the help of technology, and support new and innovative care models.”
McCormick promised increased health care accessibility for the state’s rural residents, about a quarter of the population.
“Pennsylvania’s Rural Health Transformation Plan is the product of more than two years of collaboration, conversation, and planning to design strategies and opportunities to improve health and strengthen access to care in rural Pennsylvania driven by the leaders who come from and are invested in these communities, their residents, and their future,” said Pennsylvania Department of Human Services Secretary Dr. Val Arkoosh.
Specifically, Pennsylvania’s plan includes technology and infrastructure upgrades, potentially making telehealth more accessible to rural residents. Maternal health services are another major area of focus with several counties falling within growing “maternity deserts.” Behavioral health, aging and access, and emergency medical services and transportation are other points of focus.
Then, there’s the workforce. Though the majority of the state’s landscape is rural, the majority of its considerable network of health care providers sit in its largest population centers in Pittsburgh and Philadelphia. There, medical students flock to renowned institutions like the University of Pittsburgh and the University of Pennsylvania, but keeping them in the state is a challenge, much less coaxing them out to remote corners. That’s why attracting and retaining talent is central to the state’s plans.
“With nearly $200 million from the federal government, we are moving forward with our plan to improve rural health care, attract and retain a skilled workforce, promote long-term, sustainable access, support the growth of innovative care, and foster technological innovation,” said Gov. Josh Shapiro.
His administration has also prioritized supporting the state’s life sciences industry, seeking out private sector investments in fields like gene therapy.
