WHY IT MATTERS: According to Matt McCullough, Ph.D., Director of Rural Hospital Improvement at the Utah Hospital Association, the Big Beautiful Bill’s rural healthcare funding provides a partial lifeline for Utah’s struggling rural hospitals, but covers less than 10% of nationwide Medicaid cuts.
BY THE NUMBERS:
- $50 billion: New rural health transformation funding nationally
- $100 million: Estimated annual funding for Utah
- 10%: Portion of Medicaid cuts the new funding replaces
THE BIG PICTURE: McCullough says Utah must submit a comprehensive rural health plan by the end of 2025 to access this funding. The money isn’t meant to backfill losses but to improve rural healthcare delivery through specific approved activities.
BETWEEN THE LINES: Workforce improvement has emerged as the top priority. The funding can support recruiting and retaining providers who commit to working in rural communities for at least five years.
THE BOTTOM LINE: While these funds won’t fully offset Medicaid cuts scheduled to begin in 2028, they represent a critical opportunity to strengthen Utah’s rural healthcare infrastructure.
WHAT’S NEXT: The Utah Hospital Association is actively working with state officials to develop the required rural health plan, identifying key needs among rural hospitals.