COLUMBUS, Ohio (AVC News) — Ohio is awarding $92 million through the Rural Health Transformation Program to improve health care access and services in rural communities.
Gov. Mike DeWine and Dr. Mehmet Oz, administrator of the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, announced the funding, which will be administered by the Ohio Department of Health.
The awards include $31.4 million to establish or expand health care networks and rural health innovation hubs, $30.3 million to improve maternal care and another $30.3 million for one-time investments in 22 rural hospitals.
Each of the 22 hospitals will receive about $1.38 million for projects aimed at improving patient care and expanding local services.
Projects may include opening behavioral health units for mental health and substance use treatment, adding on-site MRI services and expanding diagnostic testing to reduce wait times.
State officials say the investments are intended to help rural hospitals improve care and provide more services closer to home.
Local rural hospitals receiving awards include:
- Coshocton Regional Medical Center in Coshocton (Coshocton County)
- Joint Township District Memorial Hospital in St. Marys (Auglaize County)
- Knox Community Hospital in Mt. Vernon (Knox County)
- O’Bleness Memorial Hospital in Athens (Athens County)
- Southeastern Ohio Regional Medical Center in Cambridge (Guernsey County)
