DeWine, Husted celebrate $200 million from feds for rural health care
The sun sets behind the Menorah during the Menorah Lighting Ceremony at Beale Air Force Base, California, Dec. 7, 2023. The Menorah is a symbol of unity and celebration to commemorate and uphold tradition for Hanukkah. (U.S. Air Force photo by 2nd Lt. Sharon Cardenas)
Gov. Mike DeWine and U.S. Sen. Jon Husted, R-Ohio, praised the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services on Monday for allocating $200 million to Ohio to invest in rural health care through the Rural Health Transformation Program.
“CMS is excited to announce the official establishment of the Office of Rural Health Transformation (ORHT)!” the agency wrote on X. “This office will oversee the Rural Health Transformation Program — a historic, $50 billion initiative to strengthen rural health systems and expand sustainable access to care nationwide.”
CMS is excited to announce the official establishment of the Office of Rural Health Transformation (ORHT)! This office will oversee Rural Health Transformation Program — a historic, $50 billion initiative to strengthen rural health systems and expand sustainable access to care… pic.twitter.com/M9B4YC2iou
— CMSGov (@CMSGov) December 29, 2025
CMS’s Administrator, Dr. Mehmet Oz, also celebrated the recent decision on X, writing that “this unprecedented federal investment will help states expand healthcare access, support the communities that keep our nation running, and create lasting improvements for rural families.”
Today, @CMSGov announced that all 50 states will receive awards under the Rural Health Transformation Program, a $50 billion initiative established under the Working Families Tax Cuts legislation to strengthen and modernize health care in rural communities across the country.… pic.twitter.com/btt5fuCTn7
— DrOzCMS (@DrOzCMS) December 29, 2025
“We are so grateful to be awarded this funding so that more Ohioans can receive expanded access and enhanced quality to necessary health care,” DeWine said in a Monday press release.
He also thanked the Secretary of HHS, Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., and Oz, promising that Ohio will work with them and their teams to “ensure these funds are fully utilized so rural Ohioans can live their healthiest lives.”
DeWine also thanked Husted and U.S. Sen. Bernie Moreno, R-Ohio, for their “continued work to invest in rural health care here in Ohio.”
Ohio.News previously reported on Husted and Moreno working to help Ohioans struggling with healthcare.
Like DeWine, Husted celebrated the recent news in his Monday press release.
“Our rural health care providers are some of our communities’ literal lifeline, and having access to local care is the difference between life and death in emergency situations,” he said. “This is a huge step in our mission to make Americans healthier, in addition to supporting these facilities that also commonly serve as the anchor employer in our small towns.”
As of Tuesday, Moreno has not responded to the federal government’s recent decision.
Meanwhile, the federal government didn’t explain how the state could use the money, DeWine’s spokesman, Dan Tierney, told Cleveland.com.
“What we don’t have is the guidelines that will answer these nitty-gritty questions,” he said.
State Rep. Kellie Deeter, R-Norwalk, who also works as a rural hospital caucus co-chairwoman, said those details are essential.
“This announcement largely reflects what was anticipated, but still not enough to offset the broader federal cuts, so it will not help our rural hospitals,” she told the news source. “The focus now should be on how these dollars are deployed to deliver real, sustainable improvements in rural health care.”
