LANSING — Michigan Department of Health and Human Services was awarded more than $173 million through the federal Health Transformation Program to strengthen rural health care, including efforts to recruit and retain health workers and implement technology to better serve rural communities.
The Rural Health Transformation Program is a $50 billion fund aimed at improving the health and well-being of rural communities.
Munson Health Care is preparing applications for potential funding but does not yet know how much money could come back to the system, said Gabe Schneider, the director of government relations for Munson Health Care.
“We don’t yet know how many dollars will be coming back to Munson Health Care specifically,” Schneider said. He said the funds will be available to many types of health care providers, not just hospital systems or hospitals.
The announcement comes as providers and patients face uncertainty over possible federal Medicaid cuts, which could have a major impact on both patients and providers, the broadcast said.