The Governor’s Office says it will strengthen and modernize health care in rural areas.
Md. State House
Annapolis, Md (KM) The State of Maryland has received $168-million in federal funding to advance health care in rural communities. A statement from the Moore–Miller Administration says this amount is for the first year of a five-year Rural Health Transformation Project to strengthen and modernize health care in rural areas across the state.
“Our focus on transformational investments aligns directly with our administration’s goals to strengthen our health care system and improve the health of all Marylanders—no matter where they live in the state,” says Governor Wes Moore, in a statement. “Our record on investment in the health and well being of rural Maryland is a testament to our promise to leave no one behind.”
Almost one-third of Marylanders live in rural areas, and these communities often face health care challenges, including a lack of health care providers, and difficulty getting to care due to a lack of transportation and technology barriers.
Rural hospitals and health care providers also have unique needs in providing and sustaining high-quality services to meet the needs of rural residents But the Moore–Miller Administration says it’s committed to improving health care access for Maryland’s rural communities, including a $2-million investment in the Meritus Health School of Osteopathic Medicine in Hagerstown.
“We heard robust and critical input from rural residents throughout this process and are thrilled to have secured support to help meet the needs and priorities of our communities,” says Dr. Meena Seshamani, Maryland’s Secretary of Health, in a statement. “This funding will provide critical support to strengthen the local health care workforce, bolster current programs and implement evidence-based strategies that will have lasting impacts on the health and wellbeing of rural Maryland families.”
By Kevin McManus