The Trump Administration announced more than $19 million in funding through 11 awards to strengthen healthcare delivery in rural West Virginia, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services said. The grants are part of the Rural Health Transformation Program (RHTP), a federal initiative to modernize healthcare in underserved communities.
The funding supports mobile health units, drone delivery for medical supplies, remote eye care and patient monitoring technology, nursing education and apprenticeship programs, and mental health and substance use disorder recovery services. The grants will also support secure systems allowing healthcare providers to share patient information more effectively.
Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. highlighted the need for rural healthcare investment. "President Trump understands that every American deserves high-quality healthcare, no matter where they live," Kennedy said. "We are putting resources directly into rural communities to strengthen the health workforce, modernize infrastructure, expand access, and bring care closer to home."
Rural Americans have life expectancies three years shorter than their urban counterparts, said CMS Administrator Dr. Mehmet Oz. The West Virginia funding is intended to help address that health disparity.
The investment is part of a larger $50 billion national commitment authorized through the Working Families Tax Cuts Act. West Virginia expects to receive close to $200 million in total funding through the program by October 31, according to Gov. Patrick Morrissey.