In the News
KSN | May 29, 2026
Thirty-nine Kansas organizations are receiving $79.1 million in grants from the Kansas Department of Health and Environment to improve rural healthcare.
On Friday, KDHE announced the recipients of two types of grants through the Rural Health Transformation Program. The funding comes from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services and is administered by KDHE.
Under the Regional Partnerships Grant Program, $50 million will go to 22 health care organizations across Kansas to fund collaborative arrangements between organizations and providers that promote preventive medicine, attract and retain a highly skilled healthcare workforce, and promote the use of innovative technology to help address health problems.
KDHE also awarded $20.1 million in Rural Emergency Hospital Conversion/Transformative Capital Investment Program grants to 17 organizations. These grants are for hospitals that have earned the rural emergency hospital designation, or are in the process of doing so. They also provide funding for capital investments at other eligible facilities.
Although some of the recipients are in major cities, a KDHE spokeswoman said they all serve rural Kansans.
RPGP awardees
- Children’s Mercy Hospital: $6,096,062
- Stormont Vail Health: $5,465,969
- Great Plains Health Alliance: $5,000,000
- Recovery Unlimited: $4,290,000
- Garden City Community College: $3,439,901
- Citizens Foundation (Citizens Health): $2,832,423
- Special Olympics Kansas: $2,546,981
- Clay County Medical Center: $2,536,000
- Coffeyville Regional Medical Center: $2,500,000
- InterHab(StationMD): $2,028,980
- Iroquois Center for Human Development: $1,720,957
- High Plains Mental Health Center: $1,660,879
- Greeley County Health Services: $1,541,906
- Kansas Council on Developmental Disabilities: $1,460,000
- AdventHealth Ottawa: $1,395,814
- Labette County Medical Center: $1,383,289
- Kanza Mental Health & Guidance Center: $1,354,975
- Salina Regional Health Center: $932,310
- Mercy Hospital Pittsburg: $681,711
- Kansas Health Science University: $677,248
- InterHab(CIDDH Curriculum): $196,650
- Grace Team: $173,355
REH/CAP awardees:
- Hutchinson Regional Healthcare System: $3,000,000
- Gove County Medical Center: $3,000,000
- Clara Barton Medical Center: $2,933,500
- Pratt Regional Medical Center: $2,869,082
- Freeman Fort Scott Hospital: $2,502,999.40
- Hays Medical Center: $2,478,316
- South Central Kansas Health: $2,378,188
- Labette Health: $2,145,677
- PrairieStarHealth Center: $1,987,287
- Wilson Medical Center: $1,555,143.45
- Memorial Health System: $1,500,000
- Hillsboro Community Hospital: $837,000
- Smith County Memorial Hospital: $550,000
- Greeley County Health Services: $458,286
- Mercy Hospital Columbus: $375,981
- Ashland District Hospital: $361,478.86
- Compass Behavioral Health: $165,000
“These investments reflect the power of collaboration and long-term planning in addressing the unique health care needs of rural Kansas communities,” Gov. Laura Kelly said in a news release. “By supporting regional partnerships, rural hospitals, and critical infrastructure improvements, the Rural Health Transformation Program is empowering communities to strengthen local health systems, improve access to high-quality care, and build a more sustainable future for rural Kansans.”
Kansas Sen. Jerry Moran, who helped establish the RHTP in last year’s One Big Beautiful Bill Act, applauded the announcement.
“These resources will allow hospitals and providers in small towns across Kansas to purchase modernized technology, invest in new capabilities and expand care for surrounding communities,” he said in the release. “I look forward to continuing to work with Kansas health care providers and state leaders to find solutions that strengthen and improve the future of rural health care in our state.”
Kansas received the sixth-highest award of any state.