New York will receive $76.2 million in funding through the Rural Community Health Integration Initiative. Governor Kathy Hochul says the investment is part of more than $212 million the state received for the first year of the federal Rural Health Transformation Program and will support 90 awards to 56 organizations statewide. The initiative supports partnerships among hospitals, federally qualified health centers, behavioral health providers and other community-based organizations. Congressman Nick Langworthy says seven of the nine counties within his district, including Chautauqua County, have been identified as areas of focus under New York's program and are expected to directly benefit from the initiative.
Hochul says, "Every New Yorker deserves access to high-quality health care, no matter where they live. These investments will bring rural hospitals, health centers and community providers together to strengthen regional health care networks and make it easier for New Yorkers to get the care they need closer to home. By investing in partnerships, infrastructure and the health care workforce, we are building a stronger, more sustainable rural health care system that will serve New Yorkers for generations to come."
Langworthy says, "When we created the Rural Health Transformation Program, it was to acknowledge that our rural communities face unique healthcare challenges and demand a unique approach to improving access and quality of care. This significant $76 million investment in New York is proof that we are delivering on that promise. By strengthening partnerships among rural hospitals, health centers, and community providers, we are breaking down barriers to care, improving coordination, and building a stronger rural health care system that improves health outcomes, expands access, and delivers the kind of care that Americans in rural communities deserve just as much as those in urban and suburban settings. Delivering on this commitment will continue to be one of my top priorities for the residents of Western New York and the Southern Tier."
The Rural Health Transformation Program is a $50 billion federal initiative administered by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services and running from federal fiscal year 2026 through 2030. The program is designed to improve health care access, quality and outcomes in rural communities through strategic investments in regional partnerships, health care infrastructure, technology and workforce development.
