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CMS divvies up first payments from $50B rural health fund, with an eye toward MAHA goals 

December 29, 2025
Mehmet Oz, the CMS administrator, said a new fund is intended to fundamentally transform rural care systems, many of which are expected to face new financial pressures because of Medicaid cuts.
Evan Vucci/AP

STAT+ | CMS divvies up first payments from $50B rural health fund, with an eye toward MAHA goals

The Trump administration is rolling out a $50B rural health fund, steering more money to states that commit to policy changes and MAHA-aligned reforms.

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In 2026, Kennedy's MAHA vision gets put to the test. Here are 3 issues to watch

STAT's 3 to Watch: Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s health policy changes will play out on GLP-1s, dietary guidelines, and rural health initiatives.

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Opinion: The complicated truth about urinary tract infections in the elderly

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