Idaho to receive $186M for rural healthcare
The Trump administration announced Tuesday that nearly $186 million in Rural Health Transformation Program funding will go to improve healthcare access across rural Idaho.
The investment will help rural providers deliver and coordinate care locally through modern technology, new care models, an expanded healthcare workforce, and improvements to healthcare facilities, according to a press release.
"For many Idaho families — especially in rural areas — affordable, accessible health care is a real concern," Gov. Brad Little said. "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,”
Idaho has committed its full $186 million in fiscal year 2026 funding to improve healthcare in rural communities across the state.
The investment was made possible through the Working Families Tax Cuts Act, delivering a historic $50 billion investment to help states transform the way healthcare is delivered in America.
“From supporting workforce development programs to deploying cutting-edge technologies, these projects will tackle some of the biggest challenges facing Idaho’s rural health care system,” said Idaho Sen. Mike Crapo. “With more funding to come in the next few years, the Rural Health Transformation Program will permanently increase access to high-quality health care across Idaho.”
Key initiatives the overall RHTP funding will focus on include:
• Building the rural healthcare workforce: Supporting recruitment, training, and retention strategies to strengthen the pipeline of healthcare professionals serving rural communities.
• Strengthening rural facilities and access: Supporting partnerships, operational improvements, and care-delivery changes that help rural providers maintain essential services and improve access.
• Advancing innovative care and payment models: Supporting new approaches to delivery and financing designed to improve quality, strengthen primary care, and support sustainable rural healthcare.
• Expanding community-based and preventive care: Investing in school-based care, mobile services, and other community strategies that improve prevention, address chronic disease, and expand access to care.
• Modernizing rural healthcare technology: Expanding remote care and data-driven tools to improve coordination and extend healthcare services to rural communities.
“This historic initiative is the largest investment in rural health care in American history," said Idaho U.S. Rep. Mike Simpson. "I’ve said this since President Trump signed this tax relief into law, but this was one of the most important bills I’ve supported in Congress. I’m thrilled to see this funding come back to rural Idaho."