CMS - Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services

10/23/2026 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 10/23/2026 10:01

Trump Administration Announces More Than $193 Million to Expand Preventive Care and Bring Specialty Care Closer to Rural Florida

Trump Administration Announces More Than $193 Million to Expand Preventive Care and Bring Specialty Care Closer to Rural Florida

This federal investment will expand telehealth, mobile health, and community paramedicine to bring preventive, specialty, and acute care closer to rural Floridians

Today, the Trump Administration announced $193.7 million in Rural Health Transformation Program (RHTP) funding to 45 organizations across Florida to improve rural health across the state. This investment will help build regional capacity and expand options for rural Floridians to receive high-quality healthcare closer to home.

This transformational funding will expand options for rural Floridians to receive preventive, specialty, and follow-up care in their communities. Florida's approach uses telemedicine, remote patient monitoring, pharmacy-based services, diagnostic kiosks, and community paramedicine to give patients more ways to access needed care. Partnerships are a defining feature of Florida's approach, with more than 500 partnerships across the 45 awardees bringing hospitals, clinics, local governments, and community organizations together to support statewide rural healthcare transformation.

The Rural Health Transformation Program is expanding access to quality healthcare, regardless of a patient's ZIP code, while equipping first responders with the lifesaving resources they need when every second counts. This funding will make critical investments to strengthen rural healthcare, expand access to lifesaving services, and bring modern technology to communities across Florida.

"President Trump understands that every American deserves high-quality healthcare, no matter where they live," said Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. "We are putting resources directly into rural communities to strengthen the health workforce, modernize infrastructure, expand access, and bring care closer to home. We are giving states the flexibility to build solutions around the people they serve, while demanding accountability for results. That is how we strengthen rural health, improve the lives of patients and families, and Make America Healthy Again."

"President Trump made a historic commitment to rural America, and these investments are turning that commitment into better care for patients in communities across Florida," saidCenters for Medicare & Medicaid Services Administrator Dr. Mehmet Oz. "This is what rural health transformation should look like: federal investment that is putting patients first, driving lasting improvements and expanding healthcare for the hardworking Americans who call these communities home."

Today's investment was made possible through the Working Families Tax Cuts Act - passed by Republicans in Congress and unanimously opposed by Democrats - delivering a historic $50 billion investment to help states transform the way healthcare is delivered in America.

"These investments will strengthen rural health care in Florida by expanding preventive and at-home services, increasing access to specialty care, and supporting hospitals and health care providers," said Gov. Ron DeSantis. "This funding will help ensure rural Floridians have access to high-quality care closer to home."

"I'm very appreciative of what President Trump and Secretary Kennedy have done to help Americans in every environment live healthier, happier lives. We have to make every effort to ensure people in our rural areas get high quality, affordable, and accessible healthcare," said Sen. Rick Scott.

"The Administration has provided transformative resources across the entire state of Florida to help our rural communities provide the health care that Floridians need, to the tune of more than $193 million. Our health care system is broken, and I am working hand in hand with the CMS and this Administration to fix the system," said Sen. Ashley Moody.

"Here in Northwest Florida, folks shouldn't have to drive hours to see a specialist or struggle to find the care they need. This historic $193 million investment, $81 million of which is going to Northwest Florida, will strengthen our rural hospitals and expand access to care close to home. I thank President Trump and his administration for prioritizing rural health care and ensuring Northwest Florida gets the support our communities deserve." said Rep. Jimmy Patronis.

"I am proud to have helped pass the Rural Health Transformation Program into law this Congress to strengthen rural healthcare and expand access to critical tools like telehealth. As a physician, I know how important it is for families to get the care they need close to home. Geography should never be a barrier to healthcare, and thanks to the work of CMS and the Administration, we're making that goal a reality," said Rep. Neal Dunn.

"Where you live shouldn't determine whether you can see a doctor. For too many families in North Central Florida, the nearest specialist is a long drive away, making access to care more difficult and more expensive. This funding brings telehealth and mobile care to the Floridians who need it most and gives rural communities resources to build what meets their needs. I'll keep fighting to ensure rural Florida is never an afterthought, and I thank the Trump administration for their commitment to expanding access to quality, affordable health care services," said Rep. Kat Cammack.

"This is exactly what rural Florida needed. More than $193 million to expand clinics, bring specialty care closer to home, strengthen telehealth, and support the workforce that keeps our communities healthy. President Trump is delivering real results for rural America, and I'm proud to see Florida's 6th District benefit from it," said Rep. Randy Fine.

"Every Florida family deserves access to quality health care. I'm proud to support investments that expand services in rural communities, strengthen our healthcare workforce, and bring care closer to home. This funding will help Florida build a stronger healthcare system for the future," said Rep. Mike Haridopolos.

"For too long, rural Americans have faced fewer doctors, struggling hospitals, and long travel times to receive quality healthcare. That's why I worked with President Trump and my Republican colleagues to deliver the largest investment in rural healthcare in our nation's history. This investment will help expand access to quality care through new technologies and services, making it easier for rural Floridians to get the care they need closer to home. I applaud President Trump and CMS Administrator Dr. Oz for their commitment to strengthening rural healthcare and better serving Florida families," said Rep. Daniel Webster.

"Where you live should never determine whether you can get the care you need," said Rep. Gus Bilirakis. "This $193.7 million investment by the Trump Administration is a literal shot in the arm for rural Florida families who will now receive preventive services, connect with specialists, and access more care at home or closer to their communities. By expanding telehealth, remote monitoring, and mobile health services, these awards will help patients get timely care while reducing the burden of long trips for treatment. For our seniors, people managing chronic conditions, and families caring for loved ones, that means greater peace of mind and a better quality of life."

"Rural communities are tired of being neglected, especially when it comes to health care. This investment gives Florida an opportunity to set a national example by closing longstanding gaps in access so that distance no longer determines whether rural Floridians can get the treatment they need," said Rep. Anna Paulina Luna.

"The Rural Health Transformation Program is an investment in the people and providers who make Florida's rural communities strong," said Rep. Laurel Lee. "With $193.7 million awarded across our state, CMS is helping local providers bring more services directly to patients and expand access to specialty care closer to home. I was pleased to help fund this program through the Working Families Tax Cuts Act and look forward to seeing these partnerships deliver better care for rural Floridians."

"Every Floridian deserves access to high-quality health care, regardless of where they live," said Rep. Vern Buchanan. "As Vice Chairman of the Ways and Means Committee and Chairman of the Health Subcommittee, I'm committed to working with CMS to advance solutions that strengthen rural health care, expand access to specialists and bring innovative technologies closer to the patients who need them most. The Rural Health Transformation Program is helping make that possible by supporting providers, expanding services and improving care for rural communities across Florida."

"Rural Floridians shouldn't have to drive hours just to see a doctor or receive the medical care they need. This $193 million investment will help strengthen rural health care and expand access to critical medical services to ensure families across Florida can get the care they deserve closer to home. I'm pleased to see these resources going toward improving health care access for Floridians, including those on Florida's Suncoast," said Rep. Greg Steube.

"Access to quality health care shouldn't depend on your ZIP code. In rural communities across Central Florida, families often face long drives, limited access to specialists and shortages of medical providers," said Rep. Scott Franklin. "That's why I voted to establish the Rural Health Transformation Program. Florida's $193.7 million in awards will help address those challenges by expanding telehealth, mobile health services, preventive care and access to specialized treatment. Strengthening rural health care means making better use of technology, supporting local providers and ensuring Floridians can get the care they need closer to home."

"Geography should not be a barrier to medical treatment. Thanks to the leadership of President Trump and Administrator Oz, high-quality care will be more convenient and accessible to Floridians across the Sunshine State. This investment in Florida through the Rural Health Transformation Program will expand access to rural and mobile clinics, as well as increasing telehealth and specialty care services. The American healthcare system should work for the American people and thanks to the Trump administration it will," said Rep. Byron Donalds.

"The farmers, ranchers, and rural communities who call the Treasure Coast home deserve access to quality health care without having to travel hours to get it. This $193 million investment is about making sure rural Floridians can get the care they need, when they need it. By expanding clinics, growing our health care workforce, and bringing more services into our communities through telehealth, we're making a real difference for people across Florida. Where you live should never determine whether you can get the care you deserve," said Rep. Brian Mast.

"Access to quality healthcare should never depend on your ZIP code. This $193.7 million CMS investment will help bring critical healthcare services closer to families in South Florida and the Florida Keys by expanding telehealth, mobile clinics, and specialized care. By strengthening healthcare access in our rural communities, we are improving the quality of life for the families and seniors I proudly represent. I applaud CMS for its commitment to delivering real results for our communities," said Rep. Carlos Gimenez.

Today's announcement is one part of the larger overall funding amount awarded to Florida for fiscal year 2026.

Key initiatives the overall RHTP funding will focus on include:

  • Building the rural healthcare workforce: Supporting recruitment, training, and retention strategies to strengthen the pipeline of healthcare professionals serving rural communities.
  • Strengthening rural facilities and access: Supporting partnerships, operational improvements, and care-delivery changes that help rural providers maintain essential services and improve access.
  • Advancing innovative care and payment models: Supporting new approaches to delivery and financing designed to improve quality, strengthen primary care, and support sustainable rural healthcare.
  • Expanding community-based and preventive care: Investing in school-based care, mobile services,and other community strategies that improve prevention, address chronic disease, and expand access to care.
  • Modernizing rural healthcare technology: Expanding remote care and data-driven tools to improve coordination and extend healthcare services to rural communities.

The Trump Administration is delivering on its commitment to strengthen rural America by investing in solutions that modernize technology to promote health and well-being for rural communities. Led by CMS, the RHTP is moving beyond the failed one-size-fits-all approach and giving rural communities the tools to build stronger, more innovative, and more sustainable health systems that deliver better care and better outcomes for the Americans they serve.

For more information about the RHTP, visit: https://www.medicaid.gov/resources-for-states/rural-health .

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CMS - Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services published this content on October 23, 2026, and is solely responsible for the information contained herein. Distributed via Public Technologies (PUBT), unedited and unaltered, on October 23, 2026 at 16:02 UTC. If you believe the information included in the content is inaccurate or outdated and requires editing or removal, please contact us at [email protected]