Big companies position themselves for payday from $50B federal rural health fund

Summary: Congress recently passed a massive bill that cut nearly $1 trillion from Medicaid over the next ten years. To help make up for this, they created a $50 billion Rural Health Transformation Program. Small, remote clinics—like the Open Door Community Health Centers in California—desperately need this money to keep treating low-income patients and people with disabilities.

However, small clinics are finding out that they have to share this money with massive corporate giants. Instead of the funds going directly to doctors, nurses, and patient care, states are using the money to hire big tech and consulting companies. These corporations are being paid to upgrade computer systems, improve cybersecurity, and build new electronic health records. In fact, federal rules cap the amount of money that can actually go to healthcare providers at just 15%. Small community clinics are now worried that while big tech companies get a massive payday, rural patients will be left behind.

For more details, see rssapp-fiercehealthcare-com at fiercehealthcare.com/regulatory/big-companies-position-themselves-payday-50b-federal-rural-health-fund (opens in new tab)