Trump Administration Expands Preventive and Behavioral Healthcare Access for Students Across Rural North Carolina

Administration Rural health Share Trump Administration Expands Preventive and Behavioral Healthcare Access for Students Across Rural North Carolina This federal investment will strengthen school-based healthcare through new locations, telehealth and mobile care for children in rural communities The Trump Administration announced today that a $1.25 million investment is being delivered to expand access to preventive, acute, and behavioral healthcare for children in rural North Carolina through the federal Rural Health Transformation Program (RHTP). This investment will support new and expanded school-based health centers, telehealth, mobile care, and increased capacity at existing rural locations to help bring healthcare closer to students. This investment builds on the Administration’s $10 million in funding previously announced for 39 local EMS agencies to strengthen the rural EMS workforce and expand access to behavioral health and substance use disorder treatment. “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 North Carolina,” 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. “The Rural Health Transformation Program’s continued investments in communities across North Carolina are critical for improving the level of care for patients in our most underserved areas. By bringing high-quality care closer to our communities, we can continue to provide more options that will improve health outcomes across the Old North State,” said Sen. Ted Budd. “I am grateful to President Trump and Administrator Oz for their efforts to bolster rural healthcare across Eastern North Carolina. Our communities deserve access to high-quality, affordable care and will benefit from the funding provided by the new Rural Health Transformation Program. I am proud to have supported this effort made possible by H.R. 1 passed and signed into law by Republicans and President Trump,” said Rep. Greg Murphy. “The passage of the Working Families Tax Cuts – thanks to our Republican majorities in Washington – has gone on to bear fruit for hardworking Americans and their families across our nation. The Rural Health Transformation Program, an important byproduct of our consequential legislation, is primed to serve rural communities like those in North Carolina’s 5th District – this announcement is welcome news indeed. I remain confident that this program will serve our communities in an effective, timely, and consistent manner,” said Rep. Virginia Foxx. “The Rural Health Transformation Program, made possible through the historic Working Families Tax Cuts, is expanding access to health care for children and families in rural communities across North Carolina. I am especially pleased to see this investment support FirstHealth of the Carolinas in Montgomery and Richmond counties. Expanding school-based health services, preventive care, behavioral health support, telehealth, and mobile care will help more children get the care they need closer to home. I am proud to have helped make this program possible and will continue working to expand access to care for families across rural North Carolina,” said Rep. Mark Harris. “We are blessed in this community to have a world-class health care system in FirstHealth,” said Rep. Richard Hudson. “The Working Families Tax Cuts made a major investment in rural health care, and I’m glad to see that investment coming home to North Carolina. This funding will help FirstHealth give folks better access to the care they need closer to home.” “North Carolina has the second-largest rural population in America, yet too many families still live miles from the basic care their children need. Republicans took that challenge head-on in the One Big Beautiful Bill by creating the $50 billion Rural Health Transformation Progra