Kelly applauds Trump administration's announcement of $35 million in new rural health care funding for Pennsylvania

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Today, U.S. Rep. Mike Kelly (R-PA), a member of the Ways & Means Subcommittee on Health, applauded the Trump administration that $35 million, made possible through the federal Rural Health Transformation Program (RHTP), is being put to work to improve health outcomes among rural Pennsylvanians by updating to new, more modern screening technology, buying equipment to bring additional operating rooms online, and expanding transportation options.

This initiative will provide up to $1 million in funding to healthcare providers and hospitals per eligible location, with a total of $35 million available through this funding opportunity.

“Rural providers and hospitals are the backbone of our local health care communities. This funding will help to improve care for both patients and providers alike. I want to thank the Trump Administration for investing in Pennsylvania. This funding is a game changer for patients throughout the Commonwealth,” said Rep. Kelly.

“President Trump understands that every American deserves high-quality healthcare, no matter where they live,” said Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. “We are putting resources directly into rural communities to strengthen the health workforce, modernize infrastructure, expand access, and bring care closer to home. We are giving states the flexibility to build solutions around the people they serve, while demanding accountability for results. That is how we strengthen rural health, improve the lives of patients and families, and Make America Healthy Again.”

“President Trump made a historic commitment to rural America, and these investments are turning that commitment into better care for patients in communities across Pennsylvania,” said Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Administrator Dr. Mehmet Oz. “This is what rural health transformation should look like: federal investment that is putting patients first, driving lasting improvements and expanding healthcare for the hardworking Americans who call these communities home.”

This investment was made possible through the Working Families Tax Cuts Act— passed by Republicans in Congress and unanimously opposed by Democrats — delivering a historic $50 billion, five-year national investment to help states transform the way healthcare is delivered in America.

Pennsylvania has already committed $42 million to support 66 qualified projects across the state, including projects in Kelly's district. This is only one part of the larger overall funding amount being awarded to Pennsylvania for fiscal year 2026.

 

Key investments include:

 

• Promoting sustainable access to care by strengthening the integration and delivery of services, leveraging technology, and supporting the rural health workforce.
• Supporting renovations, structural improvements, equipment purchases, and essential supplies for hospitals, healthcare providers, and other qualified rural health facilities.
• Strengthening access to critical services and infrastructure, including emergency and non-emergency medical transportation, behavioral and maternal healthcare, medical technology for essential screenings and services, and critical structural repairs.
• The Trump Administration is delivering on its commitment to strengthen rural America by investing in solutions that modernize technology to promote health and wellbeing for rural communities.

Led by CMS, the RHT Program is partnering with Pennsylvania and states nationwide to move beyond one-size-fits-all approaches and give rural communities the tools to build stronger, more innovative, and more sustainable health systems that deliver better care and better outcomes for the Americans they serve.
 

For more information about the RHT Program, visit: https://www.medicaid.gov/resources-for-states/rural-health.