ICYMI: Historic $233 Million Investment in Rural Health Care Headed to Montana
Montana ranks fourth highest in funding allocation among all states
Washington, D.C. - In December, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services announced that Montana will receive more than $233 million in Fiscal Year 2026 through the Rural Health Transformation Program. This funding is part of the landmark “One Big Beautiful Bill,” which Congressman Zinke supported and was signed into law in July. It represents the largest federal investment in rural health care in U.S. history. Montana secured the fourth-largest allocation of any state.
“This historic funding is a game changer for Montana’s rural communities,” said Zinke. “Access to quality health care close to home is essential and has historically been hard to come by for our families and workers in small towns. As anyone living in the rural West knows, D.C.’s one-size-fits-all solutions don’t work in our communities. This investment empowers Montana’s health care workers and officials to keep our communities healthy in a way that makes sense for Montana and our way of life.”
Montana will use this funding to boost the rural healthcare workforce, secure financial stability for providers, and focus on prevention and community health. It also aims to expand technology through improved interoperability and electronic medical record upgrades. Key initiatives include creating a Rural Center of Excellence, launching new care and payment models, implementing SNAP waivers, forming an EMS Compact, and introducing Medicaid reforms like telehealth and remote patient monitoring.
Read Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services press release here.
Read the Montana program funding summary here.
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