Access

CMS announced a $120 million award in Indiana aimed at expanding maternal and infant health services, increasing primary care access, and growing the health care workforce. The press release says the funding is also intended to reduce rural barriers to care, tying workforce and service expansion to access goals. The award stands out as a concrete state investment tied to multiple access-related needs at once.

CMS said it held its first Rural Health Transformation Summit to support state-led work to strengthen rural health systems and expand access to care. The readout describes the summit as part of the agency’s rural transformation program and highlights collaboration with states on implementation and innovation. The announcement points to a federal effort focused on practical system changes in rural areas rather than only broad policy goals.

CMS’s rural health framework outlines how the agency plans to improve care in rural, Tribal, and geographically isolated communities. The page emphasizes health equity, identifies persistent access barriers, and describes CMS priorities for strengthening coverage, services, and care delivery in underserved areas. It serves as a policy overview for how the agency is approaching rural access challenges at a national level.