The Trump administration on Oct. 30, 2026, announced $39.7 million in federal funding to modernize rural healthcare services in Missouri. The money will go to 26 rural healthcare providers across the state.
The investment allows these providers to renovate, reconfigure, equip or repurpose existing facilities, according to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. The funding will expand access to maternal, behavioral, diagnostic, outpatient and chronic disease management services.
Providers will use the funds to build new labor, delivery and private triage rooms. The money will also expand behavioral health services for older adults and individuals with substance use disorders. Facilities will upgrade diagnostic equipment, including MRI, mammography and ultrasound services, and increase the capacity of rural health clinics.
The money comes from the Rural Health Transformation Program, which is funded by the Working Families Tax Cuts Act. The legislation included a $50 billion total investment for state healthcare systems. The Oct. 30 announcement is one part of a larger overall funding amount awarded to Missouri for fiscal year 2026.
Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. said the administration is putting resources into rural communities to strengthen the health workforce, modernize infrastructure, expand access and bring care closer to home. He also said states are being given flexibility to build solutions around the people they serve. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Administrator Dr. Mehmet Oz said the investments fund structural improvements to build sustainable rural health systems.
Rep. Jason Smith said a dozen rural hospitals have closed across Missouri in the past 10 years. Rep. Bob Onder said chronic diseases are particularly challenging for rural families because limited access to specialized care often requires hours of travel.
Gov. Mike Kehoe said supporting locally driven solutions will help rural communities build a stronger system that improves outcomes for families. Rep. Mark Alford said the funding will support local providers, including several in the Fourth District, to bring care closer to home.
The overall rural health program focuses on several key initiatives, the agency said. These include strengthening rural facilities, supporting the recruitment, training and retention of healthcare professionals. The program also invests in school-based care, mobile services, remote care technology and new financing approaches to strengthen primary care.