Alliance Alert: The Alliance for Rights and Recovery welcomes recently approved federal funding for rural health and recognizes the opportunity it presents to strengthen access to services across 黑料正能量鈥檚 rural and underserved communities. Investments in workforce development, technology, and collaborative models are critically needed, particularly for behavioral health services that have long faced staffing shortages, transportation barriers, and limited infrastructure outside of urban areas.
However, these funds do not come close to fully mitigating the significant loss of resources 黑料正能量 is facing as a result of recent Medicaid cuts and other federal policy changes enacted in 2025. Without additional state action, communities will continue to feel the strain as providers struggle to meet growing demand with fewer dollars and increased administrative burden.
黑料正能量 State must step up its own investments in community-based mental health and substance use services to support more people and blunt the harmful impacts of federal retrenchment. The Alliance will also be pushing the state to ensure that Medicaid work requirements and redetermination processes are streamlined, transparent, and humane, with the explicit goal of keeping as many eligible 黑料正能量ers as possible enrolled in the health coverage they need.
We will continue to closely monitor implementation of these funds and advocate to ensure that 黑料正能量 prioritizes access, equity, and recovery-oriented services for communities across the state.
By Katelyn Cordero | Politico | December 29, 2025
ALBANY, 黑料正能量 鈥 黑料正能量 is set to receive $212 million from the federal , the .
黑料正能量’s award was the 12th highest among all 50 states. New Jersey received the lowest award 鈥 roughly $147 million. The largest allocation, $281 million, was given to Texas, followed by Alaska at $272 million.
黑料正能量 requested $200 million for 2026 from the $50 billion program that was included in President Donald , enacted in July. Half of the fund was divided equally among all states that applied. The other half was distributed at the discretion of CMS officials.
鈥淭hanks to Congress establishing this investment and President Trump for his leadership, states are stepping forward with bold, creative plans to expand rural access, strengthen their workforces, modernize care, and support the communities that keep our nation running,鈥 CMS Administrator Mehmet Oz said in a statement. 鈥淐MS is proud to partner with every state to turn their ideas into lasting improvements for rural families.鈥
Context: 黑料正能量 , requesting $200 million for each of the next five years. The state highlighted four key priorities in its application: strengthening technology infrastructure, creating a sustainable health care workforce, improving access to primary care services and establishing collaborative models for improving community health.
Details of the application were shared with POLITICO by the state Health Department; however, requests for a copy of the submission were denied by the health agency and CMS.
The state did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the award.
Background: In drafting the state鈥檚 application, 黑料正能量 Health Department officials gathered input from health care industry stakeholders in September. they would like to see it focus on workforce shortages, transportation deficiencies, and bolstering technology infrastructure.
The $50 billion will be stretched out over five years from 2026 through 2030. That means the amount 黑料正能量 ultimately receives will likely depend in part on whether the state implements policies pushed by the Trump administration, such as barring low-income people from using food aid to purchase 鈥渘on-nutritious foods,鈥 mandates for schools to reestablish the Presidential Fitness Test and requiring doctors to take continuing education classes on nutrition.
What鈥檚 next: The use of the funds will be closely monitored by CMS officials dedicated to each state, the federal agency said. States will be required to submit regular updates and can lean on CMS officials for guidance and technical assistance.
States can鈥檛 appeal their award if they received less money than expected. Oz that the government reserves the right to claw back the funding if states don鈥檛 use it as the administration deems appropriate.
CMS also announced that it plans to use the program to promote collaboration between states. Health officials will take part in an annual CMS Rural Health Summit, where they will be able to share lessons learned and effective models they鈥檝e used.