Hoeven Announces Major Boost for Rural Hospitals

North Dakota is set to receive a major boost for rural health care with more than $198 million in federal funding for fiscal year 2026. Senator John Hoeven says the funding comes through the One Big Beautiful Bill’s Rural Health Transformation Fund. “This nearly $200 million award is a tremendous step toward implementing North Dakota’s plan for creating a more accessible and robust health care system for our rural communities,” Hoeven said. “With nearly $500 million expected to be awarded to the state over the next five years, these funds will help address staffing needs over the long term, open up new care opportunities for local residents and improve efficiency to reduce providers’ costs.” The funding will support workforce recruitment, chronic disease prevention, and expanded use of telehealth across rural North Dakota.