Millions Awarded To Improve Health Care In Rural Oregon

Rural Oregon communities are set to receive a major boost for local health care. The Oregon Health Authority is awarding more than $97 million in new federal funding for 136 projects across the state. With this week's announcement, OHA says about $175.3 million has been awarded in total to support health in rural communities this year.

“Overwhelming interest in this program demonstrates the need across Oregon," said Governor Tina Kotek. “At a time when Oregon's healthcare system is facing significant funding shortfalls due to federal policies, I'm pleased to announce this next step in distributing funding to innovative projects that further the state's goals to support maternal and child health, bolster the behavioral health workforce, and sustain safety net providers. Our goal is to move these funds as quickly as possible to these critical partnerships."

Rural Communities Know Their Needs Best

The money, supported by the federal Rural Health Transformation program, will help expand access to health care, recruit and retain more doctors and other providers in rural communities, improve telehealth and data systems, and support services for maternal health, behavioral health and chronic disease.

"These awards support practical, community-driven efforts to improve access to health in rural Oregon," OHA Director Dr. Sejal 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."

Some projects will also expand mobile health clinics, launch a new rural family medicine residency program, and connect patients with healthy food.

The Need Across Oregon Is Great

“OHA is quickly distributing grants through this unique federal funding source and looks forward to supporting Oregon's rural communities as they improve their own health for years to come," OHA Health Policy & Analytics Director Clare Pierce-Wrobel said. “While the total funding Oregon is receiving through the Rural Health Transformation Program is relatively small when you consider the full impact of recent federal Medicaid cuts, these awards can make a huge difference for individual organizations that are doing much-needed work in rural Oregon."

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