Iowa is receiving more than $216 million in federal funding to continue strengthening health care services in rural communities across the state.
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) awarded Iowa $216,007,657.32 in Year 2 funding through the Rural Health Transformation Program, known in Iowa as Healthy Hometowns.
The latest award represents an increase of nearly $7 million compared to the state’s first-year funding of $209,040,063.71. The investment is intended to improve access to health care, expand cancer prevention and treatment services, strengthen the rural health care workforce, and help hospitals and clinics remain sustainable.
Through Healthy Hometowns, Iowa is working to ensure residents in rural communities can receive quality medical care closer to home.
The program supports several areas of rural health care, including telehealth services, updated medical equipment, recruitment of health care professionals, cancer screening and treatment, coordinated patient care, and improved access to electronic health records.
Another component focuses on bringing medical services directly to rural residents through mobile health care programs and emergency medical services support.
Iowa HHS Principal Deputy Director Larry Johnson said the second year of funding will build on the progress made during the program’s first year.
He emphasized the importance of working with health care providers and community partners to strengthen services, support the rural workforce, and ensure the investments provide long-term benefits for Iowans.
CMS Administrator Dr. Mehmet Oz said the additional funding will help Iowa continue improving access to care, quality of services, and health outcomes in rural communities.
Iowa HHS says the Healthy Hometowns initiative uses a hub-and-spoke model to connect rural providers and communities with resources, technology, and specialized medical services.
Residents can follow the program’s progress and review information about funding, investments, and measurable outcomes through Iowa HHS’s publicly available Rural Health Transformation Dashboard.
More information about Healthy Hometowns is available at hhs.iowa.gov/HealthyHometowns.
Source: Iowa Department of Health and Human Services (Iowa HHS)
