THURSDAY, July 16, 2026|
Photo – Ambulance – Bigfoot99 file photo
Memorial Hospital of Carbon County plans to use newly released federal funding to partner with the Laramie medical center.
In 2025, the Trump administration created the Rural Health Transformation Program, which allocated $50 billion to stabilize, modernize, and expand healthcare in rural communities. Wyoming received $205 million in the first year of the program. The Wyoming Department of Health attempted to place a portion of that money into a long‑term investment account to fund future healthcare initiatives, but the federal government rejected the proposal. The state has now released the money.
Speaking at the July 7th Board of Carbon County Commissioners meeting, Memorial Hospital Chief Operating Officer Stephanie Hinkle said hospital administrators are preparing an application to request a portion of the state’s $205 million Rural Health Transformation fund.
Memorial Hospital Chief Executive Officer Kerry Ashment said the Rawlins medical center can request federal funding for the services it already provides. Ashment added that he can also seek Rural Health Transformation money for additional treatment options the hospital does not currently offer, including maternity care and hemodialysis. However, he said labor and delivery is too costly for many rural hospitals to operate on their own, with Memorial Hospital among them. Ashment said some facilities, including MHCC, are looking for ways to partner with other medical centers to provide those costlier services.
Commissioner Sue Jones encouraged Ashment to partner with a larger hospital, noting that obstetrics is an expensive line of care.
Commissioner Jones emphasized the importance of collaboration between the region’s medical providers, including Carbon County’s two hospitals and various clinics. CEO Ashment said his facility has already partnered with Ivinson Memorial Hospital in Laramie to offer women’s healthcare. If the Rawlins medical center were to expand those services to prenatal care, he said it may qualify for additional Rural Health Transformation funding.
Commissioner Jones said the federal money is largely directed toward increasing recruitment and equipment upgrades for rural ambulance crews. Ashment said Memorial Hospital has already submitted a Rural Health Transformation application for EMS services and is working to complete another. In the meantime, he said the medical center is hosting monthly meetings between Little Snake River Valley EMS, South Central Wyoming EMS, and Memorial Hospital’s internal ambulance service to promote coordination between the agencies.
Commissioner Jones said the county’s medical centers and ambulance services must work together to ensure their long‑term viability.
South Central Wyoming EMS, or SCWEMS, is also seeking federal Rural Health Transformation Program funding. Speaking at the July 13th Elk Mountain Town Council meeting, Mayor and SCWEMS Joint Powers Board Chairman Morgan Irene said the organization is partnering with Saratoga’s North Platte Valley Medical Center. He said they plan to submit a funding application for additional staff, vehicles, and supplies.
With the help of the North Platte Valley Medical Center Board of Directors, Mayor Irene said he is hopeful they’ll have their Rural Health Transformation funding application in before the July 31st deadline.
