Oklahoma has secured roughly $223.5 million in first-year funding through a new federal initiative aimed at reshaping health care delivery in rural communities.
The funding comes from the Rural Health Transformation Program, a five-year grant program authorized under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act and administered by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. Oklahoma’s total award is part of a broader $50 billion national investment focused on improving access, quality, and sustainability in rural health systems.
Governor Kevin Stitt said the funding will help strengthen care options for families living outside urban centers.
“Quality rural health access is vital to Oklahoma’s future,” Stitt said. “Funding from the Rural Health Transformation Program will help strengthen small-town clinics and critical access hospitals so families can get quality care close to home.”
State officials say Oklahoma’s plan aligns with federal goals that include improving workforce development, expanding innovative and technology-driven care, and ensuring long-term sustainability for rural providers.
Clay Bullard, Oklahoma’s Secretary of Health and Mental Health and chief executive officer of the Oklahoma Health Care Authority, said the grant represents a significant opportunity for rural communities that depend on local health services.
“Rural health care is the stabilizing factor for growth and success of many Oklahoma communities,” Bullard said. “This funding provides a transformational opportunity for Oklahoma to enhance both access to care and the technological quality of care in rural counties.”
Oklahoma’s application was developed through collaboration among multiple agencies, including the Oklahoma State Department of Health, the Oklahoma Health Care Authority, the Department of Human Services, the Oklahoma Workforce Commission, and the Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services. Hospitals, providers, community organizations, and patient advocates also contributed input.
Oklahoma Commissioner of Health Keith Reed said the grant offers a rare chance to make lasting changes in how rural health care is delivered.
“This funding is a once-in-a-lifetime chance to reshape rural health in Oklahoma,” Reed said. “The Rural Health Transformation Program is a powerful step forward, laying the foundation for lasting change.”
