Capitol Digest: Bresnahan welcomes federal investment in rural health care

U.S. Rep. Rob Bresnahan, R-8, Dallas Twp., praised the launch of the federal Rural Health Transformation Program, calling it a major step toward improving medical care in underserved communities across Northeastern Pennsylvania.

“The Rural Health Transformation Program will deliver lasting results for Northeastern Pennsylvania,” Bresnahan said in a statement. “This program will target real needs in our health care system, especially in our underserved and rural communities. I am committed to bringing funding home to our health care facilities, and I will continue to work with Governor (Josh) Shapiro and Administrator (Mehmet) Oz to make sure Pennsylvania sees the benefits of this program.”

The initiative, announced Monday by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), was established through the Working Families Tax Cuts package passed earlier this year. All 50 states are eligible to apply for funding, with applications due by Nov. 5, 2025. The program is designed to address rural health challenges by state, focusing on infrastructure, access and long-term sustainability.

Bresnahan, who was involved in early planning conversations before the tax package’s passage, said he worked to ensure that hospitals in Pennsylvania’s 8th Congressional District would be included in the initiative.