Friday, April 17, 2026 |
Photo – Wyoming’s Representative Harriet Hageman – Bigfoot99 file photo
Congresswoman Harriet Hageman discussed rural healthcare funding during a recent town hall meeting in Rawlins.
On April 7th, Wyoming Congresswoman Harriet Hageman stopped in Rawlins as part of her annual commitment to update every county on her actions in Washington D.C. Roughly 30 people attended the town hall forum at the Jeffery Memorial Center. Most came in support of her work in Washington D.C., though a few objected to her continued backing of President Donald Trump.
Congresswoman Hageman discussed her work during the current legislative session, including her push to expand tribes’ authority to lease their lands, secure funding for Wyoming‑specific projects, and increase the country’s influence within the United Nations. The conversation eventually turned to the state’s portion of the Rural Health Transformation Program funding. Part of President Trump’s One Big Beautiful Bill Act of 2025, the Rural Health Transformation Program set aside $50 billion over the next five years to modernize and stabilize healthcare in rural America.
In December, Wyoming received just over $205 million through the program. The state legislature deposited $164 million into the Wyoming Rural Health Transformation Perpetuity Fund, which is designed to generate interest to support healthcare‑related projects after federal funding ends in 2030. The remaining $41 million was set aside for hospital support, EMS coordination, and healthcare workforce training.
During the April 7th town hall forum, Congresswoman Hageman said Wyoming is set to receive $500 million over the next five years through the Rural Health Transformation Program. The congresswoman said she and Senators John Barrasso and Cynthia Lummis believe the funding should be directed locally, arguing that politicians in Washington D.C. do not fully grasp the individual needs of Wyoming’s communities.
Congresswoman Hageman said every state was expected to develop a plan to use the Rural Health Transformation Program funding.
However, Hageman said the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services has largely set those plans aside and imposed its own restrictive conditions on how the money can be used.
Congresswoman Hageman said she would attempt to address the issue after returning to Washington D.C.
A local pharmacist in the audience said the money is not enough to keep the state’s rural hospitals funded, adding that more residents are opting not to carry medical insurance coverage, which places additional financial strain on local healthcare providers.
Congresswoman Hageman said the Rural Health Transformation Program has allocated an additional $500 million for Wyoming, with the state receiving $205 million in the current funding cycle. Hageman added that the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services is delaying the release of additional funding.
The audience member disputed the congresswoman’s figures, saying the Wyoming Hospital Association was told the state received only $50 million. Hageman countered that Wyoming was allocated $205 million in this fiscal year, but the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services has imposed restrictive conditions on the money.
Congresswoman Hageman said she’s met with Governor Mark Gordon and his policy advisor, Randall Luthi, to ensure the rural healthcare money is directed to organizations with the greatest need. Hageman said the state legislature approved a plan for the money during its March session, but that plan has not gone into effect for unknown reasons.
The audience member said the federal funding is essential to keep local healthcare services operating, noting a shortage of pharmacists at his workplace. Hageman said she would make it a priority to secure Wyoming’s share of the Rural Health Transformation Program funding after returning to Washington D.C. The House of Representatives resumed its legislative session on April 13th.
