KCUR: Kansas is getting federal funds to 'transform' rural hospitals. Here's how it's being used
By Bek Shackelford-Nwanganga
Kansas hospitals are creating mobile maternal health clinics and using AI to prevent chronic illness in kids with new federal grant money aimed at increasing healthcare access to rural residents.
The Rural Health Transformation Program is a five-year federal initiative signed into law by President Donald Trump. Part of its purpose is to soften the blow of Medicaid cuts proposed by the administration and approved by Congress. Kansas received $221 million dollars for its first year.
Although some rural hospitals say the money won’t completely offset what they lose from Trump’s Medicaid cuts, they’re grateful for it. They say rural hospitals need system changes and more funding at state and federal levels to be sustainable.
Children’s Mercy
Kansas City-based Children’s Mercy, which also has locations in Kansas, won $6 million, more than any other grantee this round. The hospital wants to leverage AI to improve care for pediatric chronic illnesses, including type 1 diabetes and asthma. The plan is to partner with the Community Health Center of Southeast Kansas, the University of Kansas Health System’s Great Bend campus and Logan County Health Services.
Dr. J.B. Le Pichon with Children’s Mercy said they’ll use the money to implement AI-driven technology in rural Kansas that screens for chronic diseases in children. The technology can alert providers if kids are at higher risk of developing a chronic illness so they can focus on prevention.
“We want to really make sure we bring that innovative care to all of the children of Kansas, focusing on equity,” Le Pichon said.
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