LINCOLN—Nebraska has awarded about $136 million of its $218.5 million in first-year federal Rural Health Transformation Program funding through nearly 200 agreements aimed at improving health care in rural communities. The funding comes from the federal One Big Beautiful Bill Act, which is providing Nebraska $218.5 million annually for five years. Projects include hospital technology upgrades, workforce incentives, EMS training, oral and behavioral health services, chronic disease programs, and efforts to improve access to healthy foods.

One of the largest recipients is the Nebraska High Value Network, a partnership of 22 rural hospitals that received about $18 million to expand remote patient monitoring. The project will use technology such as wearable BioButtons to monitor patients and connect rural hospitals through centralized data systems. State officials say the program could help rural facilities improve care, reduce emergency room visits and recruit or retain health care professionals.

Nebraska must allocate the remainder of its first-year funding by October 30 or risk having unused money redistributed to other states. DHHS officials expect currently available grant opportunities to account for the full $218.5 million and say the funding represents a major opportunity to strengthen rural health care and keep medical services accessible in Nebraska communities.

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