11/12/2025

N. WISCONSIN - Wisconsin has submitted a $1 billion funding request to the federal government to address and improve rural health care access.  The Wisconsin Department of Health Services outlined three main priorities including $337 million for recruiting and retaining health care workers, $329 million for technology and innovation initiatives and $279 million to strengthen rural care partnerships.  The funding request is part of the federal Rural Health Transformation Program (RHT), a $50 billion fund born from the Trump administration's 'Big Beautiful Bill' signed into law this summer. The program was designed partly to offset concerns over Medicaid cuts included in the same bill.  The Department of Health Services plans to recruit a team to manage the project if funding is approved. However, Wisconsin won't learn whether its request has been successful until the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services announces award decisions at the end of the year.