If you live outside Reno or Las Vegas, you already know the struggle: finding a doctor, waiting weeks for an appointment, or driving hours for a hospital visit.
Rural America, and rural Nevada especially, has been hit hard as hospitals shut down and health workers pack up and leave.
Since 2010, about 150 rural hospitals across the country have closed or been turned into other facilities. That includes Nevada towns where local clinics have been forced to cut back or close doors.
Even worse, according to federal data, fewer than 4 in 10 rural hospital beds are filled on an average day. That’s far below the rates in big cities, and it’s a sign that rural communities are being left behind.
A Bold New Program
President Donald Trump’s administration is now rolling out a new plan called the Rural Health Transformation (RHT) Program.
Backed by $50 billion from the Working Families Tax Cut Act, this initiative isn’t just about keeping struggling hospitals on life support.
Instead, it’s designed to rebuild rural health care from the ground up.
Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and Medicare and Medicaid Administrator Dr. Mehmet Oz announced that states can start applying for these funds as of September 15.
They say the old way has failed, and rural America deserves better.
Elko to Tonopah: Health Care on Life Support
Nevada is a state of extremes. Nearly three-quarters of Nevadans live in Clark County, home to Las Vegas.
But outside the city lights, vast stretches of rural Nevada have only a handful of doctors and limited access to hospitals.
Elko, Ely, Winnemucca, Tonopah – these communities are hours from major medical centers.
A recent University of Nevada, Reno study found that rural Nevadans are more likely to suffer from chronic conditions like diabetes and heart disease. The same report showed that the state struggles to recruit doctors to live and work in these smaller towns.
If Nevada leaders step up and apply for RHT funds, the state could see major improvements.
That might mean more telehealth options, better training programs to bring young doctors and nurses into rural communities, or even new models where local pharmacies and clinics play a larger role.
Key Features of the Plan
The RHT program gives states flexibility, but Kennedy and Oz have outlined five big ideas:
-
Partnerships: Rural hospitals can form alliances with each other to cut costs and expand services.
-
Technology: Patients could use smartphones for early diagnosis or rely on AI-powered systems to reduce paperwork.
-
Healthy Living: More focus on nutrition, exercise, and prevention to fight chronic disease before it starts.
-
Workforce Solutions: States can let pharmacists and other trained professionals take on greater roles while streamlining licenses across state lines.
-
Stable Funding: Payment models that reward keeping patients healthy instead of only paying when they’re sick.
For Nevada, where distances are wide and staffing is thin, these tools could be game changers.
Democrats Push Back
Some Democrats say the plan won’t be enough to reverse decades of decline, and they worry rural hospitals may still struggle to survive. Others argue that technology like telehealth can’t replace in-person care.
But conservatives see the plan as long overdue.
Instead of pouring money into failing systems, RHT invests in innovation and accountability. It’s a structural fix, not a temporary patch.
A Chance to “Think Big”
Kennedy and Oz are calling on governors to “think big” and submit bold proposals. That means Nevada Gov. Joe Lombardo and state lawmakers now have an opening to fight for rural families who’ve been overlooked for too long.
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services estimates that only 7% of Medicaid hospital spending ever reaches rural hospitals.
That imbalance has left rural America with scraps while big-city systems thrive. RHT is meant to flip that script.
For Nevada, where rural communities are the backbone of mining, ranching, and energy, the stakes couldn’t be higher.
This program is a chance to restore trust, strengthen communities, and make sure families don’t have to drive hundreds of miles just to see a doctor.
Will Nevada’s Leaders Step Up?
Rural America has waited long enough.
With President Trump’s backing and a historic $50 billion investment, the Rural Health Transformation Program could finally deliver the health care system that Nevada’s rural communities need and deserve.
Now the question is: will Nevada’s leaders take the opportunity?
The opinions expressed by contributors are their own and do not necessarily represent the views of Nevada News & Views. This article was written with the assistance of AI. Please verify information and consult additional sources as needed.
