SPEAKIN’ OUT NEWS
MONTGOMERY, Ala. — Alabama is directing more than $144 million to rural health projects across the state, including major awards benefiting North Alabama hospitals, nursing programs and specialty-care networks.
Gov. Kay Ivey announced Aug. 24 that 138 grants are being awarded through the Alabama Rural Health Transformation Program. The projects are designed to improve healthcare access, quality, and outcomes in rural communities across every Alabama county.
The initial funding covers five areas: rural health, rural workforce development, mental health, rural health practices, and collaborative electronic health records, information technology, and cybersecurity.
North Alabama is receiving several notable awards. Huntsville Hospital Health System will receive $2.80 million to establish the North Alabama Rural Specialty Access Network, serving DeKalb, Jackson, Limestone, Madison, and Marshall counties.
The University of Alabama in Huntsville will receive $1.47 million to create the Rural Alabama Nursing Scholars Program across nine North Alabama counties. Other projects include $1.29 million for Russellville Hospital to improve specialty, behavioral-health, and follow-up care in Franklin County.
TLC Pediatrics & Family in Limestone County will also receive funding for maternal-infant wellness, breastfeeding support and newborn and childhood-development screening programs.
The grants are supported through the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services as part of a federal financial-assistance award totaling more than $203 million.
State officials say the program is intended to reduce long travel distances, address workforce shortages and expand access to specialty, maternal, mental-health and emergency care.
For rural Alabama families, the funding could mean more services closer to home — particularly where hospitals and medical providers have struggled with staffing, technology and financial pressures.