Kentucky will receive $212.9 million from President Donald Trump’s administration over the next five years to improve rural health care, state officials said Monday.

The money will be used to address stubborn, long-term rural health care problems including maternity care deserts, limited access to mental health professionals and gaps in oral health care.

The $212.9 million comes from a $50 billion fund Congress set aside earlier this year to offset what is expected to be billions in dollars in losses to states and rural hospital systems due to changes to Medicaid that were enacted earlier this year as part of Trump’s spending bill, which he dubbed “The Big, Beautiful Bill.”

Medicaid is a federal-state health insurance program for the poor and disabled.

“Health care is a basic human right, and it was a priority for me and my administration to submit this application and fight for funding to support our rural health communities – especially following the passage of devastating Medicaid cuts,” said Gov. Andy Beshear, a Democrat. “I am proud our community-driven plan was accepted in full and now $212.9 million will help provide our fellow Kentuckians with the quality care they need and deserve.”

An analysis by the Kaiser Family Foundation, a nonpartisan health research organization, shows Kentucky could see up to $10 billion decline in Medicaid payments to rural providers over the next 10 years. Thanks to increased work requirements enacted as part of the Big, Beautiful Bill, more than 130,000 Kentuckians could lose their health care, the analysis found. Medicaid is a primary source of income for rural hospitals and providers.

Trump administration officials have said the $50 billion fund was not intended to offset or pay rural health care providers for the loss of Medicaid dollars. The fund is intended to strengthen rural health networks.

A focus on chronic disease, behavioral health and dental care

Kentucky leaders said Monday the $212.9 million funding will address five key areas:

•Chronic disease: 17% of Kentuckians live with multiple chronic conditions, compared with 11% nationally.

•Women’s health: Nearly 1 in 6 Kentucky women of childbearing age live in maternity care deserts, more than four times the national average.

•Behavioral health: Persistent shortages of mental health professionals in rural areas place strain on emergency departments and first responders.

•Oral health: Appalachian counties experience some of the lowest dental visit rates and highest rates of complete tooth loss among seniors.

•Emergency response: Nearly half of Kentucky’s paramedics are concentrated in the state’s five largest counties, limiting access in rural communities.

To tackle some of these issues, the state is planning to ramp up telehealth networks to address provider shortages in maternity care and mental health in rural areas. Plans also call for more team-based approaches to tackle chronic health conditions including obesity and diabetes, state officials said Monday.

The plan was developed with input from more than 100 stakeholders, state health officials said.

The Kentucky Department for Public Health will oversee the new programs.

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