Nashville, TN (WOKI / WVLT) – Tennessee is looking to improve healthcare in rural communities.
Governor Bill Lee says the State has submitted an application for access to federal grant funding through the Rural Health Transformation Program, which was approved by Congress in July which makes $50 billion available to states over the next five years to support rural health systems.
“Tennessee has an historic opportunity to invest in and strengthen healthcare for rural communities for generations to come,” says Governor Bill Lee. “We know what works, because supporting at-risk and underserved Tennesseans has been a priority of my administration since day one. I’m grateful to the Trump Administration for their partnership to ensure better care, closer to home, for every Tennessean.”
Governor Lee says the goals of getting this funding include:
- Goal 1: Rural Healthcare Transformation: Strengthen rural health systems by modernizing facilities and expanding value-based care.
- Goal 2: Maternal and Child Health: Support strong starts for rural families through generational health investments.
- Goal 3: Prevention & Community Health: Increase early detection, expand access to preventative services, and improve local nutrition and wellness.
- Goal 4: Health Technology & Infrastructure: Invest in digital tools that improve care coordination, reduce administrative burden, and support innovative service delivery.
- Goal 5: Workforce Development: Build and retain a skilled rural healthcare workforce through education and training pathways.
“Tennessee can be a national model for how rural systems deliver sustainable, high-quality care anchored in prevention, innovation, and value,” said Tennessee Health Commissioner Dr. John Dunn. “We are ready to achieve meaningful results through this program – during and beyond the five-year grant period.”
