Vermont Business Magazine Governor Phil Scott today issued the following statement after the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) announced Vermont will receive over $195 million in Rural Health Transformation Funds in 2026, which is among the highest award per capita in the nation:
“This is good news for Vermont, and I’m appreciative to the Trump Administration for their partnership on this, as we work to advance our shared priorities of rural health transformation. While there are still implementation details to work out, this significant investment will help us build on the good work we’ve started to make rural healthcare more affordable and accessible.”
About the Rural Health Transformation Program:
The Rural Health Transformation Program’s $50 billion in funds will be allocated over five years, with $10 billion available each year from 2026 through 2030. As directed by Public Law 119-21:
- 50% of the funding is distributed equally among all approved states. This provides states with a strong foundation to begin implementing their Rural Health Transformation Plans; and
- 50% is allocated based on a variety of factors. As described in the Notice of Funding Opportunity, those factors include individual state metrics around rurality and a state’s rural health system, current or proposed state policy actions that enhance access and quality of care in rural communities, and application initiatives or activities that reflect the greatest potential for, and scale of, impact on the health of rural communities. All scoring factors are outlined further in the Notice of Funding Opportunity.
12.29.2025. Governor. 109 State Street | The Pavilion | Montpelier, VT 05609-0101 | www.vermont.gov
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