FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Oct. 1, 2026

Contact: CMS Media Relations
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Trump Administration Announces Nearly $55 Million to Expand Rural Maternal and Emergency Care, Cancer Screening, and Alabama’s Rural Healthcare Workforce

This federal investment will support 34 grants including maternal care networks and increase access to cancer screening across Alabama

The Trump Administration announced today that nearly $55 million in federal funding is being delivered to strengthen the rural healthcare workforce and expand access to maternal, emergency, and preventive care for Alabamians through the Rural Health Transformation Program (RHTP). The investment will support 34 grants to healthcare providers and institutions serving rural communities across Alabama.

Projects will equip at least 20 rural hospitals with emergency labor and delivery resources; expand maternal-fetal medicine through telehealth and telerobotic ultrasound; strengthen trauma and stroke coordination and EMS treat-in-place services; expand mobile and community-based cancer screening; and build statewide healthcare workforce pipelines through Alabama's schools and community colleges.

The Rural Health Transformation Program is expanding access to quality healthcare, regardless of a patient’s zip code, so rural Alabama mothers can get critical care closer to home, emergency teams can respond when every second counts, and more patients can detect cancer earlier, when treatment can be most effective. This funding will strengthen Alabama’s healthcare workforce, expand access to maternal, emergency, and preventive care, and bring modern technology and innovative services closer to patients across the state.

“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.”

“Every state knows best what its rural communities need, and thanks to President Trump’s Rural Health Transformation Program, they now have the resources to meet those needs,” said CMS Administrator Dr. Mehmet Oz. “As states put these resources to work, we’re focused on turning these investments into meaningful, sustainable improvements for the health systems that serve rural Alabamians.”

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.

“Every Alabamian deserves access to quality care, and through the Rural Health Transformation Program, we are helping many providers and institutions improve healthcare for Alabamians throughout the state,” said Gov. Kay Ivey. “I commend all the thoughtful efforts, from the federal policymakers and state administrators to our professional healthcare leaders, who are working hard to ensure the long-term success of this program. Once again, the Trump Administration is delivering meaningful results for real Americans.” 

"Investing in rural healthcare is crucial to improving health outcomes and patient care across Alabama, which is why I'm thrilled to see this latest round of grant funding. I'm thankful to President Trump and CMS Administrator Dr. Oz for prioritizing rural healthcare, and I look forward to continuing our work together,” said Sen. Katie Boyd Britt.

“I appreciate President Trump making another extraordinary investment in our great state that will improve healthcare and expand opportunities for many Alabamians, especially those living in rural areas,” said Sen. Tommy Tuberville.

“Rural healthcare providers are lifelines for communities across Alabama, but too many rural families still face long distances and limited access to critical care. This nearly $55 million investment will strengthen maternal and fetal care, emergency medical services, cancer screening and early detection, our rural healthcare workforce, and the technology providers rely on to serve their patients. I’m grateful to President Trump, Dr. Oz, and the Administration for working with Alabama to make these practical investments and help ensure Alabamians can receive quality care closer to home,” said Rep. Barry Moore.

“I am excited to see another round of rural healthcare grants coming to the state of Alabama,” said Rep. Mike Rogers. “Rural healthcare is an issue that affects every Alabamian, and these grants from the Trump Administration will greatly improve outcomes for patients in our state. Rural counties have never had a stronger ally in the White House. ”

“I’m grateful to the Trump Administration for continuing to ensure that our rural hospitals have the resources they need to remain open and serve their communities. This funding is making a meaningful difference for rural communities across Alabama by supporting maternal and fetal health care, emergency medical services, cancer screenings, and rural health care workforce development. I’m proud to have voted for this historic investment, and I look forward to seeing it help ensure that Alabamians continue to receive quality health care,” said Rep. Robert Aderholt.

“I applaud the Trump Administration for moving quickly to deliver Rural Health Transformation Program funding that Republicans in Congress secured through the Working Families Tax Cuts,” said Rep. Dale Strong. “For rural communities across Alabama, this investment means better care closer to home, a stronger pipeline of doctors and nurses, expanded mental health services, and stronger rural hospitals and health care providers.”

“This investment will have a direct impact on the health and well-being of Alabamians living in rural communities,” said Rep. Gary Palmer. “From improving maternal and emergency care to expanding cancer screening and early detection, these grants will help ensure patients can receive critical care closer to home. I am pleased to see the Rural Health Transformation Program continuing to deliver resources that strengthen healthcare across Alabama.”

Today’s announcement, one part of the larger overall funding amount awarded to Alabama for fiscal year 2026, completes Alabama’s initial Year 1 award cycle.

Key initiatives in Alabama supported by RHTP funding include: 

• Bringing maternal care closer to home: Connecting rural facilities with maternal-fetal medicine specialists through digital tools and telerobotic ultrasound. Expanding emergency labor and delivery resources to help stabilize mothers and newborns before transfer.
  
  
• Building Alabama’s rural healthcare workforce: Expanding training and recruitment pipelines for physicians, nurses, EMS professionals, midwives, dental professionals, and other healthcare workers through remote learning, clinical partnerships, provider incentives, hands-on training, and expanded Graduate Medical Education opportunities.
  
  
• Detecting cancer earlier in rural communities: Expanding early cancer detection using Alabama’s Operation Wipe Out model. Mobilizing local organizations and cross-sector partnerships to bring preventive screenings into rural communities and reach more residents efficiently.
  
  
• Strengthening emergency care and EMS: Expanding hospital-referral services that help EMS route patients to appropriate facilities for trauma, stroke, and other complex conditions, while supporting treat-in-place models when hospital transport is not necessary.
  
  
• Modernizing rural healthcare and expanding access: Investing in electronic health records, IT and cybersecurity, telehealth, behavioral healthcare, and coordinated rural care networks to better connect rural providers and patients with services.

The Trump Administration is delivering on its commitment to strengthen rural America by investing in solutions that modernize, transform, and expand healthcare access for rural communities nationwide. 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 health 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.

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