Rural America is home to more than 62 million people whose access to care and economic stability depend on a strong healthcare infrastructure. Yet rural hospitals, clinics, and workforce pipelines continue to face unprecedented strain. Congress must prioritize funding vital rural health programs in order to support rural communities’ access to local care, sustain the rural health infrastructure, and bolster the workforce. NRHA urges Congress to fully fund rural health programs and pass a comprehensive FY 2027 budget. 

NRHA requests the following funding levels for rural health programs:  

• Medicare Rural Hospital Flexibility Grant Program (Flex) (FY 26: $70.277 million)
  • NRHA FY 27 Request: $70.277 million
• State Offices of Rural Health (FY 26: $13.5 million)
  • NRHA FY 27 Request: $15 million 
• Rural Residency Planning and Development Program (FY 26: $14 million)
  • NRHA FY 27 Request: $14 million
• Rural Communities Opioid Response Program (RCORP) (FY 26: $145 million)
  • NRHA FY 27 Request: $145 million
• Rural Health Outreach Services programs (FY 26: $110.975 million)
  • NRHA FY 27 Request: $120 million
• Rural Hospital Provider Assistance Program (FY 26: $25 million)
  • NRHA FY 27 Request: $125 million
• Rural Health Research & Policy Development (FY 26: $14 million)
  • NRHA FY 27 Request: $14 million
• Rural Hospital Stabilization Pilot Program (FY 26: $14 million)
  • NRHA FY 27 Request: $20 million
• Rural Maternity and Obstetrics Management Strategies (FY 26: $15 million)
  • NRHA FY 27 Request: $15 million
• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Office of Rural Health (FY 26: $6 million)
  • NRHA FY 27 Request: $10 million

Several additional programs play a role in delivering care and strengthening rural health infrastructure. Changes to funding of these programs include:   

• Area Health Education Centers (AHEC) (FY 26: $47 million)
  • NRHA FY 27 Request: $47 million
• Community Health Centers (FY 26: $1.85 billion)
  • NRHA FY 27 Request: $1.85 billion
• National Health Service Corps (FY 26: $130 million)
  • NRHA FY 27 Request: $160 million
• Oral Health Training Programs (FY 26: $43.673 million)
  • NRHA FY 27 Request: $43.673 million
• Office for the Advancement of Telehealth (FY 26: $45.5 million)
  • NRHA FY 27 Request: $48 million
• Office of Pharmacy Affairs, which administers the 340B Drug Pricing Program (FY 26: $12.24 million)
  • NRHA FY 27 Request: $12.24 million
• Behavioral Health Workforce Development (FY 26: $114 million)
  • NRHA FY 27 Request: $261 million
• Nursing Workforce Development (FY 26: $305.472 million)
  • NRHA FY 27 Request: $320 million

Please find our FY 2027 appropriations requests table here. Additionally, NRHA created a Rural Health Appropriations toolkit to aid you in your advocacy, where you can find rural health talking points, a template letter to Members of Congress, and an advocacy campaign how-to guide to aid you in your advocacy, where you can find rural health talking points, a template letter to Members of Congress, and an advocacy campaign how-to guide. 

We encourage you to advocate on behalf of these requests by using the pre-drafted text in the campaign. As always, feel free to add your voice to the pre-drafted text to ensure your elected officials understand the unique needs of your community!   

For state-specific information on rural health federal funding in your state, please see our 2025 Federal Office of Rural Health Policy (FORHP) Funding Data by State.