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Idaho: Gov. Little announces awardees of Year 1 Rural Health Transformation Program funds

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Boise, Idaho – Governor Brad Little announced today the State of Idaho completed the awards for $186 million in Year 1 grant funding for the Rural Health Transformation Program (RHTP), aimed at strengthening and modernizing healthcare in rural communities.

Year 1 awards were distributed in alignment with Idaho's plan, which focused on five core initiatives:
  1. Improving rural access to care through technology
  2. Expanding innovative care models
  3. Strengthening workforce recruitment, training, and retention
  4. Supporting population-specific, evidence-based prevention and chronic disease efforts
  5. Investing in rural health infrastructure and partnerships

The list of awardees can be found at this link: https://healthandwelfare.idaho.gov/providers/rural-health-transformation-program-grant/funding-opportunities-rural-health

These awards will provide far-reaching benefits to Idaho citizens through hospital networks, shared infrastructure, regional programs, and mobile services.

The funds are part of close to $1 billion over five years awarded to Idaho by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services to improve rural healthcare. The funds come from H.R. 1 The Working Families Tax Cuts Act.

Nearly all of Idaho's counties are considered rural, and many communities face challenges related to access, workforce shortages, financial sustainability, and distance from care. The funding is intended to address those challenges through system-wide improvements and long-term investments.

Idaho's application was submitted by the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare (DHW) in consultation with the Idaho Rural Health Taskforce, which Governor Little created through executive order in 2025. The task force included legislative leaders, tribal representatives, and executive branch officials. The department also gathered extensive public and stakeholder input through a statewide survey, with 500 responses representing every county. In addition, the Legislature's Rural Health Transformation Committee worked alongside the executive branch to determine distribution of funds.

"For many Idaho families – especially in rural areas – affordable, accessible health care is a real concern. This investment recognizes those challenges and puts resources where they're needed most. It helps strengthen local health care and ensures Idahoans can get the affordable care they need, no matter where they live," Governor Little said.

"The Trump Administration's Rural Health Transformation Program is based on one simple idea: your access to quality health care shouldn't depend on your ZIP code," said Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Administrator Dr. Mehmet Oz. "Funding new approaches to strengthen local healthcare capacity and expand access to care is an important step toward achieving that vision for rural Idaho  and I look forward to seeing RHTP dollars support equally transformative innovations for rural communities nationwide."

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"Rural Idaho knows its health care needs better than anyone. This funding gives our communities the opportunity to strengthen local hospitals, recruit and keep health care professionals, and invest in practical solutions that will make a difference for years to come. I'm proud of the work that brought us to this point, and I'm excited to see these investments improve care for Idaho families across our state," said Senator Julie VanOrden, co-chair of the Idaho Rural Health Task Force.

"The Rural Health Transformation program funds present a unique opportunity to embrace technology and innovative care models so we can overcome distance, connect patients with providers, and find new ways to deliver care in our rural communities. Together, we are building lasting solutions that improve access and strengthen health care for Idaho families for years to come," said Representative Jordan Redman, co-chair of the Idaho Rural Health Task Force.

"This funding gives Idaho the flexibility to pursue solutions that are shaped by rural communities themselves. By listening to providers, patients, and local leaders, the state can make targeted investments that support sustainable, high-quality care closer to home," DHW Director Juliet Charron said.

EXAMPLES OF HOW THE FUNDING WILL BE USED IN YEAR 1
  1. A statewide mobile hearing clinic could bring specialized pediatric services closer to families in rural communities across the state.
  • Idaho Educational Services for the Deaf and the Blind received $897,788 in Healthcare Infrastructure Support funding for a mobile pediatric audiology clinic.
  • The mobile clinic is designed to bring specialized hearing testing for infants and young children into rural and frontier communities instead of requiring families to travel to regional specialty centers.
  1. More than $5.8 million is going to Bonner General Health in Sandpoint to strengthen local healthcare.
  • Bonner General Health received approximately $5.8 million in RHTP Healthcare Infrastructure Support funding across two projects in Bonner County.
    • Approximately $3.69 million will support a multispecialty healthcare suite.
    • Approximately $2.12 million will support a Meditech-related technology investment.
  • Together, these investments will strengthen the healthcare infrastructure available to people in Bonner County.
  1. More than $4.8 million will support healthcare improvements at St. Mary's in Cottonwood.
  • Mary's received approximately $4.89 million in RHTP Healthcare Infrastructure Support funding across multiple projects in northern Idaho, including the purchase of an MRI and replacement of aging x-ray equipment.
  1. $6.6 million will support modernization at Benewah Community Hospital in St. Maries.
  • Benewah Community Hospital received approximately $6.65 million for a clinic modernization project in Benewah County.
  1. A $1.53 million mobile dental clinic can bring dental care closer to rural communities.
  • Shine Dental Co. received approximately $1.53 million for a mobile dental clinic with Kootenai, Bonner, and Benewah counties included in its planned reach.
  1. A $200,000 investment will expand behavioral health prevention and early-intervention services across Southwest Idaho.
  • Southwest District Health received $200,000 to expand rural behavioral health prevention and early-intervention services across its six-county service area, which includes Canyon County.
    • Funding supports a behavioral health clinician who will provide early identification, brief intervention, and prevention services, along with community outreach.
    • Services can operate through Southwest District Health satellite offices, community locations, and telehealth, giving the program flexibility to reach rural residents in different settings.
  1. A $461,680 investment will build a regional mobile healthcare system with the potential to expand across Southwest Idaho.
  • Southwest District Health received $461,680 for its Community Integrated Mobile Care Infrastructure project.
    • The project will support two mobile healthcare vehicles, telehealth and diagnostic equipment, care-coordination technology, and data-sharing infrastructure.
    • The initial rollout will focus on Gem, Payette, and Washington counties, with expansion to other rural counties in later years as needs and resources allow.
  1. A $2.26 million mobile clinic will bring more preventive and diagnostic care into rural eastern Idaho.
  • Mountain View Hospital, based in Idaho Falls, received $2,255,219 in Healthcare Infrastructure Support funding for a mobile healthcare clinic.
    • The project specifically identifies Jefferson County, along with Bingham, Fremont, Clark, and Madison counties, as part of its planned service area.
    • The mobile clinic plans to offer services including preventive care, immunizations, health screenings, pediatric care, chronic disease management, behavioral health services, mammograms, diagnostic imaging, and laboratory services.
  1. A $1.24 million investment could make treatment for opioid use disorder easier to reach in Bonneville and Twin Falls counties.
  • Center for Behavioral Health Idaho received $1,237,795.36 in Healthcare Infrastructure Support funding. Its application proposes two rural medication units, in Twin Falls and Bonneville counties.
    • The project goal is to reduce repeated travel and make it easier for people to stay connected to treatment. The project would bring supervised access to medication for opioid use disorder closer to rural residents while using technology to support treatment between visits.
    • The project's analysis estimated potential demand of 147 to 197 patients in Bonneville County, with a preliminary planning range of 100 to 150 patients for the proposed medication unit. In Twin Falls County, the application's planning analysis estimated potential demand of 146 to 195 patients.
  1. A $1.59 million mobile screening program will bring cancer and heart-health screening closer to rural communities.
  • Luke's Health System received a $1.59 million Healthcare Infrastructure Support award for a mobile CT screening program, and Twin Falls County and Canyon County are included in the initial service area.
    • The mobile unit will provide low-dose lung cancer screening, coronary artery calcium screening, smoking cessation services, and cardiovascular risk assessment closer to where rural residents live.
    • The unit can travel to underserved communities in partnership with rural healthcare providers, public health agencies, employers, and community organizations.

Governor Little looks forward to continuing to work with CMS and the Idaho Legislature to further the state's investment in rural healthcare in Year 2 of the Rural Health Care Transformation Program.

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This information is supported by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) as part of a financial assistance award totaling $185,974,367.81 with 100 percent funded by CMS/HHS. The contents are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent the official views of, nor an endorsement, by CMS/HHS, or the U.S. Government.

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