Overview

• Annual $10 billion disbursements will begin in fiscal year 2026 under the newly codified program.
• States must submit detailed rural health transformation plans by year-end to qualify for equal funding.
• CMS Administrator Mehmet Oz retains discretion over $25 billion in grants, raising concerns about politicized allocations.
• Watchdogs and researchers warn that $50 billion is insufficient to offset an estimated $1 trillion in Medicaid cuts over the next decade.
• Rural providers and state officials report confusion over eligibility criteria and application timelines.