FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Sept. 14, 2026

Contact: CMS Media Relations
(202) 690-6145 | CMS Media Inquiries

Trump Administration Announces Nearly $17 Million to Adopt Emerging Healthcare Technologies and Improve Patient Transportation Between Facilities Across Rural Kansas

This federal investment will help rural providers adopt cutting-edge technology and improve transportation to specialty and behavioral healthcare

The Trump Administration announced today that a nearly $17 million investment is being delivered to support rural healthcare technology and increase patient transportation options for Kansans through the federal Rural Health Transformation Program (RHTP).

As part of today’s announcement, $16 million will be allocated to Emerging Technology Grants to help 14 rural providers adopt technologies like diagnostic tools and remote patient monitoring. An additional $780,000 will support the Interfacility Transport Project to improve regional transportation coordination, helping rural patients safely reach specialty and behavioral healthcare faster. These investments build on the more than $80 million in RHTP funding previously announced to strengthen rural healthcare across Kansas, including support for prevention and chronic disease management, healthcare workforce recruitment and development, technology and infrastructure upgrades, and nutrition-focused initiatives.

“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 Kansas,” 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.”

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.

“These federal resources will help strengthen care for Kansans in rural communities and improve access to high-quality, affordable services close to home. I worked with my colleagues to establish this program last year to make certain rural providers in Kansas are equipped with the resources and support needed to address the unique challenges they face. These federal investments will help Kansas health providers adopt innovative technologies, improve access to transportation for critical health care and connect rural Kansans to specialty and behavioral health care more quickly. I will continue working with our rural health care providers and state leaders to advance innovative solutions that strengthen rural communities across Kansas,” said Sen. Jerry Moran.

“Technology is playing a bigger and bigger role in the future of rural health care,” said Sen. Roger Marshall.“Telemedicine, remote patient monitoring, and new diagnostic tools can help our rural doctors and nurses deliver more care close to home, while better transportation helps patients who still have to travel hours to see a specialist. I’m thrilled CMS is working with Kansas to make sure these Rural Health Transformation dollars are making a real difference in our rural communities.”

“Access to quality health care should not depend on your ZIP code,” said Rep. Tracey Mann. “When Republicans passed the Working Families Tax Cuts, we made a major investment in strengthening rural health care and giving communities the tools they need to better serve patients. I’m excited to see that work being implemented by CMS today and will continue working to keep rural hospitals strong and improve health care access for Kansans across the Big First District.”

"I was excited to advocate and vote for the Rural Health Transformation Program because it makes possible this kind of continued support to strengthen rural healthcare for years to come. This new round of investment in Kansas will help rural providers put tools like artificial intelligence, remote patient monitoring, and advanced diagnostic technology to work for their patients, while strengthening transportation so people can get to the specialized care they need," said Rep. Derek Schmidt.

"Kansans in every corner of our state deserve access to quality, reliable care close to home," said Rep. Ron Estes."This nearly $16.8 million federal investment brings modern medical technology directly to our rural providers and strengthens critical patient transportation. By expanding tools like remote monitoring, we are making sure rural Kansans can access advanced diagnostic tools, specialty care, and behavioral health resources without long, costly trips away from their families."

The Trump Administration is delivering on its commitment to strengthen rural America by investing in solutions that transform healthcare access. Today’s announcement is one part of the larger overall funding amount awarded to Kansas for fiscal year 2026.

Projects supported by this funding include: 

• Advancing technology-enabled healthcare: Expanding telehealth, remote patient monitoring, data analytics, and emerging technologies, including new awards supporting diagnostic, surgical, AI-enabled, and assistive technologies across rural Kansas.
  
  
• Strengthening prevention and chronic disease management: Supporting earlier screening and community-based prevention to improve health outcomes and reduce preventable hospitalizations.
  
  
• Building a sustainable rural healthcare workforce: Investing in recruitment, training, career pathways, and retention strategies to strengthen the pipeline of healthcare professionals serving rural communities.
  
  
• Improving access to rural healthcare: Strengthening local providers, regional partnerships, and innovative care models, including new interfacility transportation projects to help patients reach needed care more quickly.

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 healthcare 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.

###

Get CMS news at cms.gov/newsroom, sign up for CMS news via email and follow
CMS on X @CMSgov