ANNAPOLIS, MD —The Maryland Department of Health this week received $168 million in federal funding for the first year of the five-year Rural Health Transformation Program to strengthen and modernize health care in rural areas across the state. The funding, which is renewable over five years, will serve to enhance the Moore-Miller Administration’s ongoing effort to bolster health care access and affordability in Maryland’s rural communities.
“Our focus on transformational investments aligns directly with our administration’s goals to strengthen our health care system and improve the health of all Marylanders—no matter where they live in the state,” said Gov. Moore. “Our record on investment in the health and well being of rural Maryland is a testament to our promise to leave no one behind.”
Almost one third of Maryland residents live in rural areas. Rural communities often face health care challenges, including a lack of healthcare providers and difficulty accessing care due to transportation and technology barriers. Rural hospitals and rural health care providers—many of whom are also the economic backbone of the communities they serve—have unique needs in order to provide and sustain high-quality services that also meet the needs of rural residents.
The Moore-Miller Administration has demonstrated significant commitment to improving healthcare access for Maryland’s rural communities. In the last two years, several efforts have strengthened community health for rural Marylanders, including breaking ground on the UM Shore Regional Medical Center, opening the Edward Q. Wilgus Community Clinic, and $2 million in facility investment for the Meritus Health School of Osteopathic Medicine.
The Moore-Miller Administration also launched Rural Advancement for Maryland Peers, also known as RAMP—a $1.6 million grant program—to expand and strengthen Maryland’s certified peer recovery specialist workforce. The program is in addition to the more than $37 million in behavioral health investments for FY 2025 and FY 2026 across the Mid-Shore to build a more robust continuum of behavioral health care.
The Maryland Department of Health is also partnering to build local resources and expand health care access, to enhance training, recruitment, and retention of future and practicing health care providers. With the Rural Health Transformation Program funding, Maryland will build on ongoing efforts to enhance the health workforce pipeline by scaling up current training and retention programs for clinical providers and allied health professionals as well as apprenticeship programs. The funding will also support Maryland’s effort to support sustainable access, innovative care models and technology advances to improve health outcomes in rural communities.
Approved funds will also be used to create post-harvest infrastructure for Maryland’s small farms, to increase the availability of more healthy, fresh food in local markets and grocers, especially in areas where need is greatest. Coupled with infrastructure investment, nutrition education and enhanced regional planning and coordination will also help increase demand for healthy food. The program is designed to help bolster Maryland’s agricultural economy and increase accessibility to more healthy food, so more Marylanders can lower their risk of chronic disease.
“We heard robust and critical input from rural residents throughout this process and are thrilled to have secured support to help meet the needs and priorities of our communities,” said Maryland Department of Health Secretary Dr. Meena Seshamani. “This funding will provide critical support to strengthen the local health care workforce, bolster current programs and implement evidence-based strategies that will have lasting impacts on the health and wellbeing of rural Maryland families.”
The Department of Health worked extensively with Maryland’s rural community members and organizations to inform the award submission earlier this fall. Through an open request for information, 17 public listening sessions, as well as numerous meetings and additional engagements, the state heard feedback and input from stakeholders representing wide interests across the state. The final proposal, submitted in November, reflected significant feedback from rural Marylanders and state partners.
Upon receiving the federal funds in 2026, the Maryland Department of Health will closely partner with other state agencies and rural stakeholders to shape, implement and evaluate program strategies.
Maryland is currently in discussion with the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services regarding approved programs and budget details. Updates including additional opportunities for funding, will be shared health.maryland.gov.
###