Gov. Greg Abbott announced Wednesday that the Texas Health and Human Services Commission plans to award $87 million in Rural Texas Strong grants to 129 rural healthcare providers across the state. Abbott said the funding will help recruit and retain healthcare professionals, replace aging medical equipment and strengthen facilities.
CMS Administrator Dr. Mehmet Oz said the Rural Health Transformation Program is giving states resources to strengthen rural health care. HHS Executive Commissioner Stephanie Muth said the awards will support medical teams who care for rural Texans.
Among the initiatives the funding will advance is "Make Rural Texans Healthy Again," which helps rural hospital districts address chronic conditions such as diabetes, cardiovascular disease, chronic respiratory disease and obesity. Another, the "Next Generation of the Small Town Doctor and Team" initiative, supports rural communities in recruiting, training and keeping physicians, emergency medical professionals and other healthcare workers.