Trump Administration Announces $209 Million to Expand Advanced Medical Care, Maternal Telehealth, and Cancer Prevention Across Rural Iowa

Administration Rural health Share Trump Administration Announces $209 Million to Expand Advanced Medical Care, Maternal Telehealth, and Cancer Prevention Across Rural Iowa This federal investment will bring advanced surgical capabilities to rural hospitals, connect patients with maternal specialists through telehealth, and modernize health information sharing across Iowa Today, the Trump Administration announced more than $209 million in Rural Health Transformation Program (RHTP) funding being put to work to strengthen healthcare delivery across rural Iowa through the state’s Healthy Hometowns initiative. This investment will support expanded clinical and maternal health services, rural workforce development, cancer prevention and screening, EMS and mobile health, and technology and infrastructure modernization across Iowa. Iowa has committed its full $209 million in funding to improving healthcare in rural communities across the state. This transformational investment will equip rural hospitals with modern technology, including robotic-assisted orthopedic surgery capabilities, and expand specialty care through Iowa’s first Maternal-Fetal Medicine Telehealth Network. Early implementation has already included seven major medical equipment installations supporting 44 advanced procedures. Funding is also expanding the rural healthcare workforce, cancer prevention and screening, EMS technology, and health information exchange tools connecting more than 100 facilities across Iowa. The Rural Health Transformation Program is expanding access to quality healthcare, regardless of a patient’s zip code, and equipping first responders with the lifesaving resources they need when every second counts. This funding will make critical investments to strengthen rural healthcare, expand access to lifesaving services, and bring modern technology to communities across Iowa. “President Trump understands that every American deserves high-quality healthcare, no matter where they live,” said Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. “We are putting resources directly into rural communities to strengthen the health workforce, modernize infrastructure, expand access, and bring care closer to home. We are giving states the flexibility to build solutions around the people they serve, while demanding accountability for results. That is how we strengthen rural health, improve the lives of patients and families, and Make America Healthy Again.” “President Trump made a historic commitment to rural America, and these investments are turning that commitment into better care for patients in communities across Iowa,” said Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Administrator Dr. Mehmet Oz. “This is what rural health transformation should look like: federal investment that is putting patients first, driving lasting improvements and expanding healthcare for the hardworking Americans who call these communities home.” Today’s investment was made possible through the Working Families Tax Cuts Act — passed by Republicans in Congress and unanimously opposed by Democrats — delivering a historic $50 billion investment to help states transform the way healthcare is delivered in America. “Republicans delivered the largest rural healthcare investment in American history as part of our historic Working Families Tax Cuts law. As I travel to hospitals and clinics across Iowa during my 99 county meetings, I’ve seen firsthand how the Rural Health Transformation Program is improving Iowans’ access to life-saving care. Under Iowa’s Republican leadership, our state has led the nation in getting this money into communities to help fight cancer, boost maternal health services and so much more. I look forward to seeing more communities benefit from this funding soon,” Sen. Chuck Grassley said. “Rural Iowa deserves access to high-quality health care close to home,” said Sen. Joni Ernst. “Made possible by the Working Families Tax Cuts, this critical investment will strengthen rural hospitals and clinics, expand maternal and preventive care, support our health care workforce, and modernize the infrastructure Iowans rely on. The Healthy Hometowns initiative is a significant step toward ensuring rural Iowans can get the care they need, when and where they need it.” “I practiced medicine in Southeast Iowa for 30 years. I’ve held the hands of patients who had nowhere close to home to turn for care, and I never forgot it,” said Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks. “The $209 million Iowa is receiving through the Rural Health Transformation Program and Healthy Hometowns is a lifeline for our rural communities. We’re seeing that impact right here in my district, from advanced cancer and cardiac imaging at Mahaska Health in Oskaloosa to a new CT scanner at Washington County Hospital. I’m proud to have helped deliver these resources to Iowa and will never stop fighting for our rural communities.” “Too many Iowans still have to travel too far or struggle to get the q