HHS Awards Nearly $25 Million to Support 132 Rural Hospitals

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has awarded nearly $25 million to 132 small rural hospitals across 13 states to support staffing and preserve access to essential medical services.

The funding was distributed through the Health Resources and Services Administration’s Rural Hospital Provider Assistance Program. Hospitals may use the money to retain physicians, nurses and other healthcare professionals while maintaining emergency, inpatient and other critical services.

“Every American should be able to reach a doctor or hospital when they need one, no matter where they live,” HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. said in announcing the awards.

Kennedy said the funding would help hospitals keep medical professionals employed and continue providing care close to patients’ homes.

Rural hospitals frequently serve as their communities’ primary healthcare providers but can face financial challenges related to smaller patient populations, workforce shortages and the cost of maintaining emergency and inpatient services. HHS said the program is intended to reduce the risk of avoidable hospital closures.

“Rural hospitals are lifelines for their communities, supporting local families, healthcare workers, and economies,” HRSA Administrator Tom Engels said.

The recipient list includes hospitals in Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, North Carolina, Ohio, South Carolina, Tennessee and West Virginia. No Oregon hospitals are listed among the fiscal year 2026 recipients.

Alabama received the largest number of awards, with 24 hospitals included. Georgia received 18, Mississippi received 20 and Louisiana received 16. Other states received between one and 11 awards.

HHS did not provide individual award amounts on the published recipient list. The agency said the overall funding would help participating hospitals maintain their medical workforces, sustain essential services and preserve affordable healthcare access in rural communities.

Additional information about federal assistance for rural healthcare providers is available through HRSA’s rural health programs.