Trump Administration Announces New Funding to Expand Rural EMS and Bring More Care Directly to Patients Across Montana

This federal investment will give rural emergency medical teams the tools to provide in-home care, manage chronic conditions, and help Montanans avoid unnecessary emergency visits

Today, the Trump Administration announced $3.63 million in Rural Health Transformation Program (RHTP) funding to expand community integrated health (CIH) services across rural Montana. This investment will help rural emergency medical services (EMS) agencies deliver more care directly to patients and connect them to vital resources, keeping high-quality care close to home for Montanans.

This transformational funding will deliver awards to 17 rural EMS agencies to cover new or expanded staff positions, transportation costs, equipment, and clinical integration needs such as training and electronic health records. Participating EMS professionals will carry out patient care plans under medical director oversight, extending primary care into the home. Services include post-discharge follow-up, fall risk assessments, wound care, lab draws, point-of-care testing, and resource navigation — helping patients manage chronic conditions like asthma and diabetes while overcoming barriers such as limited transportation and mobility.

The Rural Health Transformation Program is expanding access to quality healthcare, regardless of a patient’s zip code, and equipping first responders with the lifesaving resources they need when every second counts. This funding will make critical investments to strengthen rural healthcare, expand access to lifesaving services, and bring modern technology to communities across Montana.

“President Trump understands that every American deserves high-quality healthcare, no matter where they live,” said Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. “We are putting resources directly into rural communities to strengthen the health workforce, modernize infrastructure, expand access, and bring care closer to home. We are giving states the flexibility to build solutions around the people they serve, while demanding accountability for results. That is how we strengthen rural health, improve the lives of patients and families, and Make America Healthy Again.”

“President Trump gave states the resources to transform rural healthcare, and now we’re seeing those dollars move from plans into action,” said Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Administrator Dr. Mehmet Oz. “Our focus now is on making sure this early progress translates into lasting results for rural patients and more resilient, sustainable health systems in the years ahead. In Montana, that means EMS professionals have the tools to manage chronic conditions and deliver care directly to patients close to home.”