IDOH MEDIA RELEASE: GOV. BRAUN ANNOUNCES $120 MILLION IN REGIONAL GRANTS TO IMPROVE RURAL HEALTH

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2 N. Meridian St., Indianapolis, IN 46204

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Sept. 3, 2026

GOV. BRAUN ANNOUNCES $120 MILLION IN REGIONAL GRANTS

TO IMPROVE RURAL HEALTH

INDIANAPOLIS - Gov. Mike Braun announced today that the Indiana Rural Health Transformation Program (RHTP) has awarded the first year of GROW (Grow Rural Opportunities for Well-being) Regional Grants, marking a significant step forward in Indiana’s commitment to strengthen rural healthcare and improve health outcomes for Hoosiers.

Indiana received nearly $207 million for the first year of the five-year federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) grant program administered by the Family and Social Services Administration and Indiana Department of Health, under the direction of Gov. Braun. About $120 million, or 60% of that funding, was earmarked for the regional grants.

“The Trump Administration’s Rural Health Transformation Program is based on one simple idea: your access to quality health care shouldn’t depend on your ZIP code,” said CMS Administrator Dr. Mehmet Oz. “Funding new approaches to expand access and improve health outcomes for rural Hoosiers is an important step toward achieving that vision, and I look forward to seeing RHTP dollars support equally transformative innovations for rural communities nationwide."

The grants were awarded in eight regions where rural health partners joined together to create a unified plan to identify community needs and design local solutions. Visit the RHTP website for a map of the regions, award amounts and specific regional initiatives.

“This funding is a major step forward in our commitment to making health care affordable and accessible for all Hoosiers,” Gov. Braun said. “It’s an important stride toward creating a more sustainable and connected network in rural Indiana.”

Areas of focus include:

Pre- and post-natal care to improve maternal and infant health
Chronic disease prevention and management of conditions like diabetes, hypertension, obesity and related risks with evidence-based, outcomes-driven interventions
Access to care and removing barriers such as technology, transportation, healthy food, health education and connected referral pathways

“We are excited about the proposed innovative solutions brought by different stakeholders in each region,” said Lindsay Weaver, M.D., FACEP. ”These grants align local partners, modernizing data connections, and growing the rural workforce so affordable, high‑quality care reaches patients when and where they need it.”

These regional grants mark a major milestone in Indiana’s long-term effort to support healthier families, expand access to essential services and build sustainable rural healthcare systems. Each of the eight regions developed a proposal reflecting the priorities of its community, with strategies highlighting local hospitals, community partners and local health departments.

This newly released funding will support initiatives and activities including:

Expanding prenatal and postpartum navigation, maternal fetal medicine access, infant support, prenatal mental health support and a rural-focused OB residency
Providing new access points by expanding clinical capacity, adding primary care and behavioral health access points by launching mobile medical and dental services
Building a regional rural health workforce pipeline with expanded recruitment, clinical training pathways, retention strategies and high-need positions
Developing a coordinated regional transportation network linking hospitals, EMS, aging-services providers and local transit to reduce missed appointments and improve access to care
Transforming behavioral health and crisis response through ED embedded clinicians and standardized regional crisis service messaging

The regional grants work in tandem with 11 statewide RHTP Initiatives that continue to support innovation, strategic partnerships, infrastructure development and work force investment. Indiana’s overall RHTP strategy directs 92% of the funding to about 230 Indiana organizations. Resourcing local partners ensures solutions are driven by Hoosiers who understand local barriers, maintain trusted relationships, and have a vested interest in creating durable, long‑term improvements in rural health and the region’s economic vitality.

Visit growruralhealth.in.gov for more information about RHTP.

This Rural Health Transformation Program is supported by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) as part of a financial assistance award totaling $206,927,896.80 with 100 percent funded by CMS/HHS. The contents are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent the official views of, nor an endorsement, by CMS/HHS, or the U.S. Government.

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