State Rep. Barhorst Applauds $92 Million Investment in Healthcare Expansion for Rural Ohioans
State Representative Tim Barhorst (R- Ft. Loramie) is pleased to share that Governor DeWine recently announced $92 million in awards through the Rural Health Transformation Program to expand access to quality healthcare in rural Ohio.
“Rural hospitals are the heart of our communities. These investments will help them keep quality care close to home for District 85 families,” said Representative Barhorst.
The House Rural Hospital Caucus reinforced that rural independent hospitals are vital to the communities they serve – providing emergency care, employment opportunities, and overall community well-being. This funding will help rural hospitals manage chronic illnesses and expand access to preventive, primary, maternal, and behavioral healthcare.
The initial $92 million in awards, administered by the Ohio Department of Health (ODH), includes:
- $31.4 million to establish or expand Clinically Integrated Networks (CIN) and Rural Health Innovation Hubs
- $30.3 million to improve maternal care
- $30.3 million in one-time investments to 22 rural hospitals
The Rural Health Transformation Fund was created as a portion of the One Big Beautiful Bill that President Trump signed in July 2025. The House Rural Hospital Caucus specifically advocated for the one-time investment awards to go to rural independent hospitals.
Wilson Memorial Hospital in Sidney and Mary Rutan Hospital in Bellefontaine were each awarded $1.3 million through the grant for quality-improvement projects like opening additional healthcare units, expanding certain services available, and more, helping rural hospitals provide quality patient care to more Ohioans in the community.
To learn more about the details of this announcement, click here.