Senator Ken Yager coordinating with local mayors to prepare for a federal rural healthcare initiative that will provide Tennessee with approximately $1 billion over the next five years.
Yager said the Rural Health Transformation Program provides $200 million annually to expand healthcare services exclusively within rural counties. Yager said the funding is intended for technology, maternal care, behavioral health, and workforce training.
“This bill or this funding will not pay for bricks and mortar,” Yager said, “It’s not going to go out and build a new hospital or a clinic, but what it is going to do, it is going to provide, among other things, funds for technical support, to technology.”
Yager said he is meeting with local leaders early because the legislation is complex and requires a deep understanding to navigate the application process. Yager said local governments must conduct assessments to identify legitimate needs that align with the specific requirements of the bill.
“It is just so important to be ready because the people are going to line up for this money and if we’re not ready for it there’s a person behind us in line that will be,” Yager said. “Number one, in order to have a successful application, they need to have a legitimate need that is embraced by the bill and this will give the mayors and the local health department and the local hospital, those counties that have one, an opportunity to do assessments to see where the real need is.”
Yager said the program addresses specific needs in rural Tennessee such as high infant mortality rates and a lack of maternity care.
“There’s a real need for women’s healthcare and maternity care in rural Tennessee,” Yager said, “This program will provide for that. Behavioral health, which is a universal problem throughout Tennessee, again it is going to work on providing access to rural Tennesseans that need the behavioral health assistance.”
Yager said the grant opportunities also extend to preventative health measures, including the development of community parks and walking trails. Yager said the initiative includes a workforce training component to help rural hospitals and clinics recruit staff for difficult-to-fill positions.
“I’m not clairvoyant and I’m not God, but I do think we would have a better quality of life and we would certainly have the opportunity statistically to live longer if we take care of ourselves in time and pay attention to our health,” Yager said.
Yager said he plans to hold additional meetings with mayors who were unable to attend the initial sessions to ensure every rural community has the information needed to apply.