Corrected: Idaho allocates its entire $186 million in federal grant to improve rural health access

Correction: This story was corrected at 12:15 p.m. Oct. 28 to reflect that the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid announcement Wednesday reflected that Idaho had spent its entire $186 million first-year grant and did not announce second-year funding. The agency has not yet decided on second-year grant amounts, according to Idaho Department of Health and Welfare officials. 

Idaho spent all of its approximately $186 million grant in the second year of the five-year federal Rural Health Transformation Program. 

The money went to organizations statewide for projects meant to improve access and services for rural and tribal healthcare systems, according to a press release from Idaho Gov. Brad Little.

The U.S. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid announced Wednesday that Idaho spent its full grant award, which the state was required to do before Oct. 30 or the federal government could claw it back. 

“For many Idaho families – especially in rural areas – affordable, accessible health care is a real concern,” Little said in the press release. “This investment recognizes those challenges and puts resources where they’re needed most. It helps strengthen local health care and ensures Idahoans can get the affordable care they need, no matter where they live.” 

Idaho officials awarded nearly 115 subgrants to organizations across the state for programs including for healthcare workforce development, chronic disease prevention and cancer screening, infrastructure improvements for rural hospitals, substance use disorder prevention programs, maternal and child health initiatives, and 911 emergency communications improvements.  

The federal money came from the $50 billion that will be allocated nationwide as part of the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act” approved by Congress in July 2025.

“Today, the Trump Administration announced nearly $186 million in Rural Health Transformation Program (RHTP) funding to improve healthcare access across rural Idaho,” the press release from CMS said.

The $186 million was awarded to Idaho on Dec. 30, 2025, the Idaho Capital Sun previously reported. The Idaho Department of Health and Welfare posted its first three grant opportunities under the program in June.

Here are some of the projects awarded in Idaho: 

• The City of Riggins Ambulance received $507,000 to improve emergency medical services in the area. 

• • • The Riggins Ambulance & Salmon River Ambulance District posted on Facebook that its award would go toward a paramedic command vehicle to allow a paramedic to travel to patients before the ambulance arrives, as well as to transport patients with mental health needs to larger facilities without taking an ambulance out of service. It will also go toward new or updated equipment for the district. 
    • “This is a HUGE win for our small community and will allow us to make some incredible upgrades to our emergency medical services!” The district posted. “Major win.” 

• Benewah Community Hospital was awarded over $6.6 million to modernize rural healthcare infrastructure in the region. 

• • • The hospital announced in a press release that it would prioritize the funding for new MRI and digital X-ray capabilities, IT improvements, cybersecurity, facility renovations, laboratory equipment and hemodialysis systems. The money was awarded conditionally, the press release said, and final projects and allocations are subject to state review and approval. 
    • “This conditional selection is a meaningful step toward bringing modern diagnostic equipment and stronger infrastructure to the rural patients we serve,” Hospital Chief Executive Officer Burt Keltner said in the release.

• Idaho Educational Services for the Deaf and the Blind received $897,788 for a statewide pediatric mobile hearing clinic. 

• • • The mobile audiology clinic will be designed to bring specialized hearing testing for infants and young children in rural and frontier communities, according to the governor’s press release.   

• St. Mary’s in Cottonwood was awarded more than $4.8 million for infrastructure improvements. 

• • • The money is expected to go toward multiple projects in northern Idaho, according to the governor’s press release, including the purchase of an MRI and replacement of aging X-ray equipment. 

• Shine Dental Co. received $1.54 million for a mobile dental clinic in North Idaho. 

• • • The mobile clinic will serve Kootenai, Bonner and Benewah counties. 

• Mountain View Hospital was awarded $2.26 million for a mobile clinic to serve eastern Idaho. 

• • • The Idaho Falls-based hospital plans to serve Jefferson, Bingham, Fremont, Clark and Madison counties. The mobile clinic would offer preventative care, immunizations, health screenings, pediatric care, preventive care, immunizations, health screenings, pediatric care, chronic disease management, behavioral health services, mammograms, diagnostic imaging, and laboratory services. 

• St. Luke’s Health System received $1.59 million for a mobile screening program. 

• • The healthcare system would offer mobile CT screening in Twin Falls and Canyon counties as its initial service area. The mobile unit would provide low-dose lung cancer screening, coronary artery calcium screening, smoking cessation services, and cardiovascular risk assessment.