Rep. Hudson, North Carolina Delegation Secure $213 Million Rural Health Investment for NC Communities
Last week, the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) announced North Carolina will receive $213 million under the Rural Health Transformation Program, one of the largest funds for rural health programs in history, created by President Trump’s Working Families Tax Cut.
“I’m pleased that President Trump and House Republicans delivered $213 million for North Carolina through H.R. 1, the Working Families Tax Cut, creating the largest rural health care investment in a generation,” said Rep. Hudson. “As one of the most rural states in the nation, serving nearly eight percent of the U.S. rural population, North Carolina is well-positioned to expand access to care and strengthen rural providers.
“I’m disappointed the Governor’s Office did not coordinate with federal and local partners during the application process, which appears to have limited the funding our communities deserve,” Hudson continued. “I look forward to continued engagement with rural providers and stakeholders to make sure North Carolinians get the health care access they need.”
This comes shortly after U.S. Representative Richard Hudson and the North Carolina congressional delegation sent a letter urging CMS to allocate funds to match the vast rural population North Carolina serves. They urged approval of North Carolina’s application and outlined the urgent need to recognize the state’s uniquely rural population and health care challenges.
North Carolina is home to nearly 3 million rural residents across 85 counties, making it the second-most rural state in the nation and accounting for up to eight percent of the U.S. rural population.
These funds come from the Rural Health Transformation Program — part of a $50 billion, five-year investment designed to expand access to care, support rural providers, strengthen the health care workforce, and modernize rural health infrastructure.
The delegation specifically highlighted that existing federal guidance excluded counties such as Moore and Pitt, which serve some of North Carolina’s most isolated rural patients, while including larger urban counties. Members pressed CMS to ensure funding decisions reflected real-world rural health care delivery rather than arbitrary classifications.
Why this matters for North Carolina:
- 24 counties lack adequate primary care access
- 90 counties are designated mental health shortage areas
- 12 rural hospitals have closed since 2006
Rural Health Transformation Program – North Carolina Impact
Created under President Trump’s Working Families Tax Cut, the Rural Health Transformation Program represents the largest investment in rural health care in a generation, designed to:
- Expand access to affordable, quality care in rural communities
- Support and retain rural health care providers
- Strengthen workforce development
- Invest in technology, innovation, and health infrastructure
- Improve preventive care and long-term health outcomes
Read the full letter here.