(The Center Square) – Georgia’s $218.8 million grant from the federal Rural Health Transformation Program was the sixth largest among the 50 states, according to the grant announcement.
Rural Georgia has a dearth of physicians, according to the state’s applications. More than half of Georgia’s 159 counties lack an obstetrician-gynecologist, and 63 counties do not have a pediatrician.
Research shows that residents in rural areas have higher rates of death from heart disease, cancer and suicide, according to the application.
“This funding will help move us forward in strengthening our rural providers while bringing cost-saving innovations to the state’s health system,” Gov. Brian Kemp said in a statement. “I also want to thank the hardworking team at the Department of Community Health that put together such a strong proposal, resulting in one of the largest allotments in this first year of the program.”
State officials said they will release details on how they plan to use the grant in the coming weeks. The application included plans for mobile health units in rural areas, as well as telehealth services for specialty care, pediatrics and postpartum behavioral health.
Obstetric carts were recommended for non-delivering emergency departments in the application.
The state also plans to use the grant money to attract more health care workers to rural areas.
The $50 billion program was included in H.R. 1, commonly known as the “Big Beautiful Bill,” passed by Congress in July.
