Rural Oregon Hospitals Receive Grant Money

Eastern Oregon’s Cliff Bentz said the nearly $200 million coming to Oregon’s rural health centers next year will force more innovation.  The Oregon Republican told KBND News in Bend the funding doesn’t replace Medicaid.

"How can we use this money to think and figure out better ways of doing what needs to be done in these small communities: maintaining access and having quality care?" Bentz asked.

The eastern Oregon Republican said he believes artificial intelligence will help rural providers do more with less money.

"It shrinks the amount of time the doctor has to spend scribbling down notes, because it can manage that kind of chore," Bentz said.  "It also can analyze what types of tests and other things need to be done; it can back up the doctor’s opinion."

Bentz is the only Oregon member of Congress to vote for the Big Beautiful Bill, which created the Rural Health Transformation Program.

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