Republicans’ Working Families Tax Cut investment of $50 billion in rural health care takes effect this week
WASHINGTON — Speaker Johnson released the following statement commending CMS’s announcement of the Rural Health Transformation Program awardees for Fiscal Year 2026, an important step to improve access to affordable, quality health care for more than 61 million Americans living in rural communities. The program was established by the Working Families Tax Cut legislation and takes effect this week. Democrats unsuccessfully attempted to repeal the program as a condition for ending their 43-day government shutdown earlier this year.
“This week, Republicans are following through on our commitment to expand access to affordable, quality health care for patients living in rural America by awarding $50 billion spread across all 50 states that have long faced challenges delivering care,” Speaker Johnson said. “This is made possible by the Rural Health Transformation Program — created in the Republicans’ Working Families Tax Cuts bill— which represents the largest investment in a generation to improve health care across rural America over the next five years. This program was designed for patients in rural communities to help expand access, support rural providers, develop a skilled workforce, drive innovation, and improve health outcomes. Together, President Trump and Congressional Republicans are working hard and delivering affordable, quality, and dependable health care to hardworking families in across America.”
Background on the Rural Health Transformation Program
The Rural Health Transformation Program was created by Republicans’ historic Working Families Tax Cuts (Section 71401) to provide $50 billion over five years to strengthen health care for more than 61 million Americans who live in rural communities. The program is designed to expand access, improve quality, and lower costs for patients across rural America.
• Expands Access: Deliver new access points to affordable and quality health care for rural patients.
• Supports Workforce Development: Attract and retain high-skilled rural health providers.
• Promotes Innovative Care Models: Enhance innovative and flexible care models to improve health outcomes and coordinate care.
• Invests in Technology & Infrastructure: Invest in health innovations, digital health tools, and facilities for lasting impact.
• Improves Preventive Health: Support preventive health and address root causes of disease to improve long-term outcomes.
2026 State Award List, HERE.
Read more about the RHT Program, HERE.
###