Oklahoma lands $227 million for rural health care, one of the biggest awards in the country

OKLAHOMA CITY (Nov. 11) — Oklahoma will get about $227.1 million over the next year to shore up health care in its rural communities, one of the largest shares handed out in the second round of a federal program.

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services awarded the state $227,097,542.59 for the second year of the Rural Health Transformation Program, the Oklahoma State Department of Health announced Monday. The new budget period runs from Oct. 31 through Oct. 30, 2027.

That's roughly $3.6 million more than the $223.5 million Oklahoma got in the first year, KOSU reported. The state again ranks behind only Texas, Alaska, Montana and California, according to the federal award list. Kentucky's second-year award is about $211.3 million.

The money keeps 29 state programs running. They range from training more doulas and community health workers to expanding rural medical residencies and telehealth, Oklahoma Voice reported. Programs launched in the first year include microgrants, help with local and specialty care, chronic disease management and preparation for the Presidential Fitness Test. The health department says more than 500 organizations across the state received funding through direct awards and partnerships in year one.

Congress set aside $50 billion for the fund in last year's "One Big Beautiful Bill Act," to be split among the states at $10 billion a year for five years. The same law is expected to cut federal Medicaid spending by an estimated $911 billion over a decade, KOSU noted.

HHS said this year's awards partly reflect how far each state has gotten on its plan, including policies such as the Presidential Fitness Test and nutrition training for doctors. Oklahoma ranks among the worst states in the country on many health measures.