Kemp seeks $1.4B federal grant to overhaul rural health care in Georgia

Gov. Brian Kemp’s administration requested $1.4 billion from the Trump administration to “transform” rural health care in Georgia.

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports that the Trump administration will award one-time grants by the end of 2025 for the purpose of improving rural health care.

Kemp’s administration submitted a nearly 100 page request including projects such as drop-in telehealth “pods,” funds for recruiting nurses and health transportation networks, according to the AJC.

The project is called Georgia’s Rural Enhancement And Transformation of Health, or GREAT Health program. 

The One Big, Beautiful Bill Act created the $50 billion program, from which half of the funds will be evenly distributed among the states. The Trump administration will decide who receives the other funds.

The program is a one-time, five-year expenditure, so it will not replace the $1 trillion that the act cut from health care expenditures, which are ongoing.

The GREAT Health program implements 29 strategies across five initiatives, according to Georgia Department of Community Health frequently asked questions sheet.

• Transforming for a Sustainable Health System in Rural Georgia
• Strengthening the Continuum of Care in Rural Georgia
• Connecting to Care to Improve Healthcare Access in Rural Georgia
• Growing a Highly Skilled Healthcare Workforce in Rural Georgia
• Leveraging Technology for Healthcare Innovations in Rural Georgia

States are supposed to be notified about their award by Dec. 31.