The Maryland Department of Health has secured $168 million in federal funding for the first year of the five-year Rural Health Transformation Program, aimed at strengthening and modernizing health care in rural areas across the state. This renewable funding will support the Moore-Miller Administration’s ongoing efforts to improve health care access and affordability for rural Marylanders. Governor Moore emphasized that these transformational investments reflect the administration’s commitment to ensuring all residents, regardless of location, have access to quality health services.
Roughly one third of Maryland’s population lives in rural areas, which often face challenges such as a shortage of health care providers and barriers to care caused by limited transportation and technology. Rural hospitals and providers are critical to both the health and economic well-being of their communities, yet they require targeted support to sustain high-quality services and meet the specific needs of residents.
The Moore-Miller Administration has demonstrated a strong commitment to rural health, with recent initiatives including the groundbreaking of the UM Shore Regional Medical Center, the opening of the Edward Q. Wilgus Community Clinic, and a $2 million investment in the Meritus Health School of Osteopathic Medicine. Additionally, the administration launched the Rural Advancement for Maryland Peers (RAMP) program, a $1.6 million grant initiative to expand the certified peer recovery specialist workforce, complementing more than $37 million in behavioral health investments across the Mid-Shore region for FY 2025 and FY 2026.
The federal funding will also enhance Maryland’s health workforce by expanding training, recruitment, and retention programs for clinical providers, allied health professionals, and apprenticeships. It will support sustainable access to care, innovative service models, and technology upgrades to improve health outcomes in rural communities. Beyond health care services, the funding will help develop post-harvest infrastructure for small farms to increase the availability of fresh, healthy food, alongside nutrition education and regional planning to improve community health and bolster the agricultural economy.
Secretary of Health Dr. Meena Seshamani highlighted that robust input from rural residents shaped the program’s design, ensuring the funding addresses community needs and priorities. The Department conducted 17 public listening sessions and numerous stakeholder meetings to inform the submission, reflecting broad feedback from rural Marylanders.
As the Rural Health Transformation Program is implemented, the Maryland Department of Health will work closely with other state agencies and rural stakeholders to evaluate and refine program strategies. Discussions with the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services regarding approved programs and budgets are ongoing, and further updates, including additional funding opportunities, will be shared through health.maryland.gov.
