Governor Andy Beshear announced Monday that Kentucky’s Rural Health Transformation Plan has been accepted in full by the Trump administration, securing $212.9 million to support health care in rural communities.
The funding was authorized by Congress earlier this year and is administered by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, and over the next five years it will be distributed to help offset recent federal Medicaid cuts and strengthen access to care across rural Kentucky.
Beshear said the funding reflects the state’s commitment to treating “health care as a basic right” and emphasized that the plan was shaped by local input to address real needs in rural communities.
The plan was developed by the Beshear administration in partnership with health care providers, hospitals, universities and community organizations statewide. According to state officials, the funding will target some of Kentucky’s most persistent rural health challenges, including chronic disease, maternity care shortages, behavioral health access, oral health gaps and emergency response limitations.
According to officials, Kentucky still has several key rural health challenges that need to be addressed, including:
+ Chronic disease, where 17% of Kentuckians live with multiple chronic conditions, compared to 11% nationally
+ Women’s health, where nearly 1 in 6 women of childbearing age live in maternity care deserts
+ Behavioral health, where ongoing shortages of mental health professionals in rural areas is concerning
+ Oral health, where low dental visit rates and high tooth loss among seniors in Appalachian counties continues to create problems
+ And a lack of emergent care professionals, as nearly half of Kentucky’s paramedics work in just five counties.
Five care innovation models also need initial and continued supports, including:
+ Rural Community Hubs for Chronic Care, which serve as local hub-and-spoke systems focused on obesity and diabetes
+ PoWERing Maternal and Infant Health, which works as telehealth-supported maternal care teams
+ Rapid Response to Recovery, or EmPATH, which works as mobile crisis and behavioral health stabilization services
+ Rooted in Health: Rural Dental Access, which is expanded dental training and portable or tele-dental clinics
+ And Crisis to Care: Integrated EMS Response, which is enhanced pre-hospital care and trauma coordination
The Kentucky Department for Public Health will lead implementation, working with more than 100 stakeholders who contributed to the plan’s development.
Kentucky’s application process began in September 2025, with awards announced Monday.
Nationwide, the Rural Health Transformation Program will distribute $50 billion between fiscal years 2026 and 2030.
More information will be available at RuralHealthPlan.ky.gov.
