U.S. Sen. Jerry Moran (R-KS) led members of the Kansas congressional delegation in seeking support from the administration for their home state’s request to access federal funding from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services’ Rural Health Transformation (RHT) Program.
The $50-billion rural provider fund, created under the enacted One Big Beautiful Bill Act, helps identify the root challenges facing rural health providers and invests in solutions to improve outcomes for struggling providers, according to Sen. Moran and four of his Kansas colleagues, including U.S. Reps. Ron Estes (R-KS) and Sharice Davids (D-KS).
The state recently filed a Rural Health Transformation Plan application to access funding from the RHT Program. The application was in response to a Notice of Funding Opportunity for the program released by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS).
“Rural healthcare providers across Kansas recognize the urgent need for transformation. Yet, with many providers operating under persistent negative margins, they face significant barriers to making the critical investments necessary for regional collaboration, clinical integration, and modern technology solutions,” the Kansas lawmakers wrote in a Nov. 3 letter sent to the CMS Administrator.
“The targeted initiatives supported by this program will empower rural providers to move beyond the current “sick care” paradigm and toward a sustainable, value-driven system that enables every Kansan to live a healthier, more productive life,” they added.
Sen. Moran and his colleagues wrote they have confidence that Kansas’ rural health providers will “enthusiastically embrace” the RHT Program’s initiatives to strengthen care delivery and improve health outcomes in their communities.
“Each member of our delegation stands ready to provide any assistance necessary to ensure the success of this plan,” wrote the senators. “We respectfully urge CMS to give full and favorable consideration to the Kansas Rural Health Transformation Plan. We believe it will not only benefit rural communities throughout our state but also serve as a national model for modernizing and sustaining rural health care delivery.”