Overview
- CMS says $25 billion will be split evenly among approved states, with the remaining $25 billion awarded after a merit review.
- Award notices are expected by December 31, 2025, with funds distributed through cooperative agreements from 2026 to 2030.
- States outlined investments in telehealth, workforce pipelines, maternal and emergency services, and health IT such as EHR and data hubs, with detailed plans highlighted in Missouri, Mississippi and North Dakota.
- Governors announced requests that include Arkansas seeking $1 billion, Arizona applying for $1 billion and Alabama proposing $500 million across 11 initiatives.
- Analysts warn the fund will only partly offset sizable Medicaid cuts in the underlying law, and guidance gives broad discretion to CMS and states without guaranteed hospital pass‑throughs or an appeals process.