SALT LAKE CITY — The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services announced Tuesday that Utah will receive more than $195 million in federal funding to overhaul health care delivery in its rural and frontier communities.
The award is part of the $50 billion National Rural Health Transformation Program established by the Working Families Tax Cuts legislation. The initiative aims to modernize infrastructure in 25 of Utah’s 29 counties currently designated as rural.
“This is a historic opportunity to make generational investments in the health and wellness of rural Utahns,” said Tracy Gruber, executive director of the Utah Department of Health and Human Services.
The state plans to use the funds to expand primary, maternal, and behavioral health services. Modernization efforts will include upgrading facilities with advanced digital tools and telehealth infrastructure to bridge geographic gaps. Currently, some rural residents must travel up to six hours one way to reach specialty providers.
Data from the department shows a critical need for the investment; the share of rural Utahns reporting poor mental health has increased 47% since 2015. Additionally, adults in the state’s most remote “frontier” counties experience the highest rates of diabetes and high blood pressure.
Officials say the program will focus on community-based solutions, such as school-based wellness programs and improved access to locally sourced foods, to combat chronic disease.