State Rep. Gross Welcomes $92 Million Investment in Healthcare Expansion for Rural Ohioans

State Representative Jennifer Gross (R-West Chester) welcomed Governor Mike DeWine’s announcement of $92 million in Rural Health Transformation Program awards to strengthen healthcare across rural Ohio. Gross helped advocate for directing funds to independent rural hospitals through her work with the House Rural Hospital Caucus.

“I advocated with my colleagues to secure the attention and funding independent rural hospitals deserve,” said Gross. “As a nurse practitioner and veteran, I know timely access to care saves lives. These investments mean that rural Ohio families can get the emergency and essential care they need without traveling far from home.”

Last year, Gross joined caucus colleagues in a letter urging Governor DeWine to direct federal rural health funding to independent hospitals facing financial challenges. These hospitals provide essential medical care, support local jobs, and are often a lifeline for their communities.

The initial $92 million in awards, administered by the Ohio Department of Health (ODH), includes:

• $31.4 million to establish or expand Clinically Integrated Networks (CIN) and Rural Health Innovation Hubs
• $30.3 million to improve maternal care
• $30.3 million in one-time investments to 22 rural hospitals

Established under the federal One Big Beautiful Bill Act in 2025, the Rural Health Transformation Program supports coordinated care, hospital improvements, and greater access to preventive, maternal, and behavioral healthcare.

To learn more about the details of this announcement, click here.