FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Sept. 29, 2026

Contact: CMS Media Relations
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Trump Administration Announces $8.7 Million for New Ambulances and Lifesaving Medical Equipment Upgrades Across Rural Montana 

This federal investment will replace aging ambulances and equip rural EMS agencies in Montana with ventilators, cardiac monitors, and other critical patient transport equipment

The Trump Administration announced today that an $8.7 million investment is being delivered to support rural healthcare for Montana residents through the federal Rural Health Transformation Program (RHTP). This investment will provide 79 rural emergency medical service (EMS) agencies with new ambulances and lifesaving medical equipment, giving first responders the resources they need to respond to crises, transport critically ill patients, and deliver high-quality care.

This funding will replace EMS vehicles more than 20 years old and leased ambulances that are not fully functional, supporting new ambulances for four agencies. An additional 75 agencies, including three tribal governments, received funding for much-needed equipment — including IV pump systems, ventilators, cardiac monitors, power load systems and cots, and stair chairs.

“President Trump understands that every American deserves high-quality healthcare, no matter where they live,” said Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. “We are putting resources directly into rural communities to strengthen the health workforce, modernize infrastructure, expand access, and bring care closer to home. We are giving states the flexibility to build solutions around the people they serve, while demanding accountability for results. That is how we strengthen rural health, improve the lives of patients and families, and Make America Healthy Again.”

“President Trump made a historic commitment to rural America, and these investments are turning that commitment into better care for patients in communities across Montana,” said Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Administrator Dr. Mehmet Oz. “This is what rural health transformation should look like: federal investment that is putting patients first, driving lasting improvements and expanding healthcare for the hardworking Americans who call these communities home.”

The Rural Health Transformation Program is expanding access to quality healthcare, regardless of a patient’s zip code, and equipping first responders with the lifesaving resources they need when every second counts. Today’s investment was made possible through the Working Families Tax Cuts Act — passed by Republicans in Congress and unanimously opposed by Democrats — delivering a historic $50 billion investment to help states transform the way healthcare is delivered in America.

“Working with President Trump and CMS Administrator Oz, Montana is on its way to modernizing Montana’s rural health system,” said Gov. Greg Gianforte. “By providing new funding for emergency medical services, CMS is ensuring that all Montanans, regardless of where they live, can rest assured that the response will be swift when a medical emergency occurs. As we deploy Rural Health Transformation Fund dollars, we will continue to prioritize the needs of Montanans in our rural and underserved communities.”

“When you’re facing a medical emergency, every second counts. This is especially true in our rural and frontier communities, where reliable and available EMS care can mean the difference between life and death. I’m thrilled to see this nearly $9 million investment in Rural Health Transformation Program funding for emergency response and patient transport for our state. I was proud to support the Working Families Tax Cuts Act, which included historic investments in rural health care and is enabling this critical investment that will help save lives across Montana,” said Sen. Steve Daines.

“Montanans deserve access to emergency care they can count on, no matter where they live. This announcement of more than $8.7 million in Rural Health Transformation Program funding for EMS agencies across rural Montana is great news and will provide a much-needed boost to emergency services, including by supporting upgrades in critical equipment from ambulances and cardiac monitors to ventilators and patient transport systems. Investments like this ensure our communities see faster emergency response times and rural patients safely receive the care they need,” said Sen. Tim Sheehy.

“Republicans delivered the largest rural health investment in American history through the Rural Health Transformation Program, and Montana is seeing the benefits firsthand,” said Rep. Ryan Zinke. “More than $8.7 million is going directly to rural Montana EMS agencies for new ambulances and critical equipment. In rural Montana, help can be a long drive away, often over rough roads. This investment will give our first responders the tools they need to care for patients in tough conditions and make Montana safer and healthier.”

“Reliable emergency medical care can be the difference between life and death in rural Montana,” said Rep. Troy Downing. “This funding will help EMS agencies upgrade critical equipment and strengthen emergency response across our state. I’m glad to see these Rural Health Transformation Program dollars going directly to the communities that need them most.”

Today’s announcement is one part of the larger overall funding amount awarded to Montana for fiscal year 2026.

Montana’s broader RHTP strategy is designed to strengthen rural healthcare and support sustainable access across the state’s rural and frontier communities. 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, tribal workforce programs, and other community strategies that improve prevention and address chronic disease.
  
  
• Modernizing rural healthcare technology: Expanding remote care and data-driven tools to improve coordination and extend healthcare services to geographically isolated communities.

The Trump Administration is delivering on its commitment to strengthen rural America by investing in solutions that modernize, transform, and expand healthcare access for rural communities nationwide. Led by CMS, the RHTP is moving beyond the failed one-size-fits-all approach and giving rural communities the tools to build stronger, more innovative, and more sustainable health systems that deliver better care and better outcomes for the Americans they serve.

For more information about the RHTP, visit: https://www.medicaid.gov/resources-for-states/rural-health.

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