ATLANTA — On Thursday, the Trump administration announced a $93.3 million investment Thursday to expand telehealth, introduce surgical robotics and strengthen rural health care access across Georgia.
The funding comes from the federal Rural Health Transformation Program, will support 87 rural hospitals across the state.
The $93.3 million allocation completes Georgia’s full $218 million award for its first year of funding under the Rural Health Transformation Program.
The federal program is meant to give states funding flexibility to address workforce shortages while expanding care networks and modernizing medical technology available in their facilities.
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Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. highlighted the administration’s goal of directing resources to local health systems.
“President Trump understands that every American deserves high-quality health care, no matter where they live,” Kennedy said. “We are putting resources directly into rural communities to strengthen the health workforce, modernize infrastructure, expand access and bring care closer to home.”
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Administrator Dr. Mehmet Oz noted that the federal initiative targets long-term care improvements.
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“President Trump made a historic commitment to rural America and these investments are turning that commitment into better care for patients in communities across Georgia,” Oz said. “This is what rural health transformation should look like: federal investment that is putting patients first, driving lasting improvements and expanding health care for the hardworking Americans who call these communities home.”
Under the allocation, 87 rural hospitals in Georgia will receive pre-implementation funding to prepare for participation in CMS’s AHEAD Model, which shifts providers toward accountable care structures.
The money will also fund education, training and recruitment programs for nurses, emergency medical technicians and paramedics.
Specific technology initiatives funded through the package include surgical robotics, hospital cybersecurity, expanded dementia care capacity and telehealth infrastructure.
The funding additionally supports expanded access to maternal health, behavioral health care, newborn screening and non-emergency medical transportation.
“I want to thank the Trump administration, our CMS partners and the hardworking team at the Department of Community Health for making this first year of GREAT awards so successful,” Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp said. “Thanks to their efforts, transformational funding is going toward innovating and improving our health care system, with more awards to come.”
Rep. Rich McCormick, who is a physician, noted the direct assistance for local medical workers.
“By strengthening our hospitals, expanding telehealth, investing in our health care workforce and bringing cutting-edge technology closer to our communities, we are giving providers the tools they need to better serve their patients,” McCormick said.
State officials indicated that additional funding distributions will follow as Georgia continues its participation in the multi-year Rural Health Transformation Program.
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