Texas to Receive $281 Million in Federal Funding for Rural Healthcare as Rural Texas Strong Enters Its Second Year
Texas Governor Greg Abbott announced in Austin on November 10 that the Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) will receive $281 million in federal funding for the second year of Rural Texas Strong, a five-year initiative to improve rural healthcare throughout the state.
Abbott said the $281 million will deliver critical resources for patients and facilities in rural Texas, allowing providers to recruit and retain personnel, upgrade equipment and facilities, and expand preventative care so rural Texans receive the healthcare they need close to home. HHS Executive Commissioner Stephanie Muth said Rural Texas Strong laid a strong foundation in its first year for improving access to care in rural communities, and that the state looks forward to building on that momentum in year two, bringing healthcare closer to home through trusted local providers.
Rural Texas Strong, a CMS-approved state plan, is 100 percent federally funded and features six initiatives: reducing chronic disease through prevention, wellness and nutrition services; investing in consumer-facing technology to engage patients on improving their health; deploying artificial intelligence and telehealth services to bridge service gaps; recruiting and retaining rural healthcare workers through career development, scholarships, relocation payments and training programs; improving cybersecurity defenses to protect patient data; and upgrading equipment in rural hospitals and clinics.
Eligible providers may apply for these initiatives beginning in November, and public notices and procurement opportunities will be announced through GovDelivery email notifications. HHSC said federal funding is contingent on meeting all applicable program requirements, with details on the commission's Rural Health Transformation webpage.
(Source: Office of the Governor of Texas)
Source: Office of the Governor of Texas
Published by GSM · USA (original Chinese edition)
Photo: 图：德克萨斯州州长 Greg Abbott。照片：NASA 约翰逊航天中心，公共领域，经 Wikimedia Commons；竖幅原图以模糊衬底补成横幅、全幅呈现。 / Photo: Texas Governor Greg Abbott. Photo by NASA Johnson Space Center, public domain, via Wikimedia Commons; the portrait original is presented in full on a blurred backdrop.
