Rural Health Transformation Program Arizona Allocation
Dr. Derksen mentioned
Arizona received less than 44 other states did from the Rural Health Transformation Program, an economic plan touted by Congressman Juan Ciscomani. Thatcher Warwick Hess reports.
The Republican-backed federal funding plan allocated $50 billion over five years. That money is dependent on specific criteria regarding landmass and uncompensated care percentages. Dr. Dan Derksen from the University of Arizona Office of Rural Health says he’s grateful that Arizona got the money, and he’s not surprised that the state got less than its $200 million original appeal because of its low population in rural counties.
Ciscomani said working families in rural southeastern Arizona deserve to get their fair share and that the fight is far from over. The state's share totals $167 million for 2026. This amount is the sixth lowest of any state, despite nearly half of the state’s counties being 100% rural.
Thatcher Orquist, AZPM News.