Georgia hospitals plan for $218.8M in new rural health funds

Healthcare professionals recently gathered at the Capitol to discuss how to use $218.8 million awarded to the state.

Gov. Brian Kemp announced at the end of 2025 that Georgia had been awarded funds through the federal government’s Rural Health Transformation Program (RHTP).

Now, hospitals will be able to apply for grant funds through the Georgia Department of Community Health to comply with the department’s vision for health care in Georgia, which is called Georgia’s Rural Enhancement and Transformation of Health (GREAT Health).

Van Loskoski, CEO of Stephens County Hospital, told Georgia Public Broadcasting (GPB) that hospitals need funds for basic tasks.

“We just, in the last two weeks, have had two events where we’ve had the shelter staff in place for an extended period of time with snowy and icy weather,” he said. “There’s funding built into this package that helps hospitals in emergency situations to shelter in place and to beef up their infrastructure so that they’re better prepared for these types of events.” 

Hospital advocates listed several concerns that they would like to see the funds and lawmakers address, including an increasingly older population that relies heavily on Medicare, delays in getting payments from insurers, streamlining electronic medical records and improved technology to collect data on patient spending and needs, according to GPB.

Critics of RHTP say the program fails to make up for the loss in federal funding to programs like Medicaid and the Affordable Care Act, and the funds may not get to the hospitals that need it the most.

Caylee Noggle, president and CEO of the Georgia Hospital Association, told GPB she is confident the program will help target root challenges rural hospitals face.

“We’re very, very appreciative and grateful for the increased focus on rural health care and some of the challenges,” she said. “And we’re hopeful that there are some real pieces in here that can prove to lead to longer-term innovation and support.”