Montana Gets a Huge Rural Healthcare Boost Thanks to President Trump

Healthcare in Montana just got a little boost thanks to a $239.7 million Year 2 federal award for the Rural Health Transformation Program (RHTP) announced by Governor Gianforte and Department of Public Health and Human Services Director Dr. Douglas Harrington.

The award marks the third-highest funding award and third-largest increase among all fifty states from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS).

Strengthening Healthcare in Montana

The announcement was made official by Governor Gianforte on Monday (11/9) and aims to keep healthcare in Montana and stabilize rural clinics thanks to the funding from Trump administration.

"Montanans should be able to get quality health care without leaving the communities they call home," Governor Gianforte said, "This investment builds on the partnerships we established in the first year of the Rural Health Transformation Program to strengthen emergency services, support our rural health care workforce, and help local providers deliver care for years to come."

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Thanks to the way Montana utilized the first year's funding which included upgrading rural ambulances, EMS gear, etc... the state was able to secure an even larger payout in Year 2.

What's Montana's Plan for Year 2 of the RHTP?

Another big reason Montana was able to secure funding is because of the way the state plans to juse the funds as outlined in their plan submitted to officials.

Among the priorities are launching the Center of Excellence, rolling out Electronic Health Record mordernization grants, expanding tribal healthcare, and partnering with state education entities on workforce and retention.

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"The increased award reflects our first-year performance, a clear plan for year two, and the hard work of Montana’s RHTP team," Dir. Harrington said. "In the first year, we built partnerships, committed funds, and put tools in place to support long-term improvements."

"In year two, we will build on that foundation to help rural facilities strengthen their operations, modernize health records, and expand access to care in rural and tribal communities."

You can read more about the program framework and dive deeper into Year 2 plans HERE.