Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis announced nearly $188 million in new awards aimed at strengthening health care across the state’s rural communities, with the funding set to support hospitals, clinics, health care workers and expanded access to medical services.
The funding will provide more than 80 awards across 31 rural counties that are home to nearly 1.2 million Floridians. Recipients include hospitals, Federally Qualified Health Centers, rural health clinics, other health care providers and community organizations serving rural residents.
“These investments in rural Florida will strengthen hospitals and clinics, expand the rural health care workforce, and help ensure Floridians can access high-quality care in their own communities,” DeSantis said.
The awards are being distributed through Florida’s Rural Health Transformation Program, which is administered by the Agency for Health Care Administration.
Florida received $209 million through the federal-state initiative, which is designed to strengthen rural health care systems, modernize infrastructure, expand services and develop the health care workforce.
The latest funding follows awards made through procurements earlier this year that established infrastructure to monitor program results, track spending and deliverables, and provide assistance to organizations receiving funds.
With the latest round, AHCA has now awarded the full scope of Florida’s Rural Health Transformation Program funding to qualified organizations across the state.
Senate President Ben Albritton called the announcement a “transformational day for rural Florida,” saying it marks the first year of a five-year initiative expected to invest more than $1 billion.
“This is a transformational day for rural Florida as we implement the first year of a five-year initiative that will invest more than $1 billion to stabilize rural health care, expand access, and improve outcomes for Florida’s rural residents,” Albritton said.
AHCA Secretary Shevaun L. Harris said organizations receiving the latest awards were selected through a competitive, merit-based process.
“These organizations know their communities, and they have shown us concrete plans to put this funding to work,” Harris said. “This is what it looks like to close the gap between rural and urban health care access, one community at a time.”
Florida Secretary of Commerce J. Alex Kelly said the awards would also help strengthen rural communities by supporting opportunities for job creators and job seekers.
Representative Sam Garrison described the initiative as a partnership between state and federal government that will help strengthen rural health care through improved access, technology and workforce development.
The Northwest Region received the largest portion of the latest awards, with 35 recipients receiving a combined $81 million. The Northeast Region received $51 million across 14 awardees, while 21 recipients in the Southwest Region received $45 million. Eleven awardees in the Southeast Region received a combined $12 million.
The investments will fund a wide range of rural health initiatives, including expanded clinical training and rural rotations, start-up funding for rural and satellite clinics, mobile health units, remote patient monitoring and advanced telehealth services.
State officials said the funding is intended to strengthen health care infrastructure while helping rural Floridians obtain high-quality medical care closer to their own communities.
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