The Oregon Health Authority is awarding about $97.1 million in additional federal funding to improve the health and well-being of Oregon’s rural communities this year. These grants will support 136 new projects across all counties in the state.
Rural Health Transformation Program
The funding originates from the federal Rural Health Transformation Program, which aims to address critical health care needs in rural areas. Oregon Governor Tina Kotek noted the significant interest in the program, highlighting its role in supporting maternal and child health, bolstering the behavioral health workforce, and sustaining safety net providers.
The federal Rural Health Transformation Program, created by U.S. House Resolution 1, a federal tax and spending bill that became law in July 2025, will distribute a total of $50 billion nationwide between 2026 and 2031 through the U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.
Community-Driven Efforts
OHA Director Dr. Sejal Hathi emphasized the community-driven nature of these awards. “These awards support practical, community-driven efforts to improve access to health in rural Oregon,” Dr. Hathi said. “Rural communities know their needs best and this funding is intended to help them strengthen local services, expand workforce capacity and address barriers that make it harder for people to get care close to home.”
The new grants are offered through two funding pools established by OHA. The largest, competitive Catalyst Award grants, will provide about $80.1 million to 85 organizations, leading 103 projects. These projects will address maternal and child health, co-occurring mental health conditions and substance use disorder, aging in place, or chronic disease in every Oregon county.
Original reporting: KTVZ (Central Oregon) — read the source article.
