Kentucky secures $212.9 million for rural health care under federal program

FRANKFORT, Ky. (ABC36 NEWS NOW) — Gov. Andy Beshear says Kentucky’s Rural Health Transformation Plan has been accepted in full by the Trump administration, securing $212.9 million to support health care in the state’s rural communities. His announcement came Monday.

The funding was authorized by Congress earlier this year and will be administered by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. The money will be distributed over five years and is intended to help offset the impact of recent federal Medicaid cuts while strengthening rural health systems across the Commonwealth.

According to the governor’s office, the plan was developed by the Beshear administration in partnership with health organizations across Kentucky.

State health leaders and partner organizations praised the announcement, calling it a significant investment in the long-term stability of rural health care in the state.

Nationwide, the program is expected to provide $50 billion over five years beginning in 2026.