Nevada Applies for $200 Million in Federal Rural Health Funding

Nevada has formally applied for up to $200 million a year in new federal funding aimed at strengthening rural healthcare across the state. Governor Joe Lombardo and the Nevada Health Authority submitted the application on Nov. 3 under the Rural Health Transformation Program, a new initiative created through the One Big Beautiful Bill Act.

The federal program sets aside $50 billion over the next five years to help states improve healthcare access in rural communities. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) will review applications and determine award amounts by Dec. 31, with funding expected to begin in early 2026. Nevada may receive more or less than the $200 million included in the application.

“As Governor, I have witnessed firsthand the challenges rural Nevadans face trying to get the care they need,” Lombardo said. “Thanks to President Trump and Congress, Nevada is now poised to deploy hundreds of millions in new targeted investments in the state’s rural healthcare system over the next five years, benefiting the lives of thousands of Nevadans.”

Stacie Weeks, director of the Nevada Health Authority, said the effort builds on ongoing work to shore up the state’s healthcare network. “This new grant helps build on the work we have already begun at the Nevada Health Authority to strengthen the state’s provider workforce and drive more innovation and efficiencies in the state’s healthcare system,” she said.

State officials said the application reflects feedback gathered from hundreds of Nevadans, including healthcare providers, trade groups, public health agencies, universities, non-profits, and rural residents themselves. The governor’s office launched an online survey earlier this year, resulting in more than 300 responses with ideas for how the federal funds could be used.

Nevada’s proposal highlights four major initiatives. The first, the Rural Health Outcomes Accelerator Program, would support new approaches to preventing and managing chronic illnesses common in rural areas. A second initiative would create a flexible fund for rural hospitals and clinics to upgrade equipment, add services, and improve local public health systems. To address staffing shortages, the state plans a rural-focused workforce grant program. The final initiative targets technology and innovation projects designed to modernize how rural Nevadans receive care, including tools that expand access when distance and staffing remain challenges.