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Idaho (KMVT/KSVT) — The Idaho Department of Health and Welfare is offering grants to help improve access to health care in rural areas. The grants cover a variety of projects, and the department is urging organizations to apply
Last summer, Congress appropriated $50 billion to support rural health transformation across all 50 states. This was part of the One Big Beautiful Bill that President Donald Trump signed into law
Idaho Department of Health and Welfare Director Juliet Charron said each state had the opportunity to apply for up to $1 billion over a five-year period
“Idaho was awarded just under $186 million, per year, for the five year period of funding to support rural health transformation in our state,” Charron said
Charron said the department is using the funds to offer grants, which can address a number of health care related issues the state is facing
“Things like workforce which is here in Idaho, having availability of physicians who are available to practice or nurses who are available to practice in rural communities,” Charron said. “Often times our rural providers are not as fortunate to have the availability of re settings. They may not have the most modern equipment or the equipment at all to be able to deliver certain services that their community members need.”
Charron said the grants are not limited to medical services and can also cover infrastructure projects related to health care
“It is construction projects, it is electrical projects, it is technology, it is connectivity for internet and AI capabilities, it’s workforce and job opportunities for our rural communities,” Charron said
The Idaho Department of Health and Welfare’s website has a list of grant opportunities open to anyone. Charron said the grants are not limited to health care groups. Nonprofits, faith-based organizations, public sector groups and others can find opportunities they may be eligible for
The grants are intended to help improve access to health care for rural areas
“We’re trying to think about access very broadly, and also think about access to care in non traditional access points like delivering services in a school based setting, leveraging libraries or other community spaces, faith based organizations, as a point of deliver and access to care,” Charron said
Charron said those interested should submit their proposals before the end of September. The grants will be awarded in October. To learn how to apply and look at grants, click here
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