States decide how tribes benefit from $50B rural health fund
The Trump administration’s $50 billion Rural Health Transformation Program excludes federally recognized tribes from applying directly for funding, leaving it to states to determine whether to include tribal priorities, according to KFF Health News.
Some states, including Idaho, Nevada and Oregon, proposed setting aside 3% to 10% of their allotments for tribes, while Washington proposed $20 million annually. Others, such as North Dakota, identified tribes as partners but declined to reserve a portion of funds.
Liz Malerba, policy director for the United South and Eastern Tribes Sovereignty Protection Fund, said federal programs work better when tribes can access funding directly. “Even in a scenario where tribal consultation is required, the quality and quantity of that tribal consultation on a state-by-state basis is all over the place,” Malerba, a citizen of the Mohegan Tribe, was quoted as saying.
According to KFF Health News, states will be notified of their federal allotments by year’s end.
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