ICYMI: Nick Begich Delivers Nearly $300 Million to Support Rural Healthcare in Alaska
Congressman Nick Begich is delivering real results for Alaska families.
Congressman Begich secured $272 million in federal funding for rural healthcare in Alaska, a huge win to expand access to affordable care and strengthen rural hospitals. The funding was included in the Working Families Tax Cuts, which Begich passed last year.
Read more from Frontiersman here or see excerpts below:
“This is transformative.” Alaska awarded $272 to address healthcare
Katie Stavick
Frontiersman
December 29, 2025
For Alaskans needing healthcare, there are major hurdles to overcome, including massive geographic barriers, workforce shortages, and a limited infrastructure.
To address the hurdles, Congress has established the Federal Rural Health Transformation Program (RHTP) is a new $50 billion, five-year initiative (2026-2030) to modernize rural healthcare and support sustainable rural health solutions.
On December 29, the State of Alaska received word that it had been awarded $272 million award from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) to strengthen Alaska’s health care system, the first of five annual awards for Alaska under the five-year RHTP. It was the second-highest amount awarded, with only Texas receiving more funding.
To welcome the news, Governor Mike Dunleavy, Senator Dan Sullivan, Representative Nick Begich, and Alaska Department of Health Commissioner Heidi Hedberg held a joint press conference in Anchorage.
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There are several needs within the current Alaskan healthcare systems that are expected to be addressed with the RHTP. Because of Alaska’s geography, the vast distance from the lower 48, lack of roads, the sometimes harsh weather, timely access to care can be incredibly difficult. Innovative solutions and developing technology like telemedicine and mobile units are needed, especially in rural facilities with outdated technology in need of upgrades, better data sharing, and cybersecurity to deliver efficient, modern care. The RHTP is built to help states expand telehealth, remote monitoring, and digital health tools. It also supports innovative, flexible, and community-centered care delivery.
“Our approach to healthcare delivery has always required a different way of thinking. When communities are separated by hundreds of miles with no road system, extreme weather is a constant factor…limited infrastructure presents its challenges. Doing things the usual way here in Alaska is simply not an option. That’s why the Federal Rural Health Transformation Program is such a crucial investment for the people of Alaska,” said Representative Begich. He said this critical investment in healthcare should not be overlooked. “This funding is a historic investment that will have lasting impacts on families in Alaska.”
Rural hospitals and clinics also face immense financial pressure and difficulty attracting and keeping skilled healthcare provider, and RHTP offers a vital pathway to stabilize these essential access points and address worker shortages with recruitment and retention incentives and training for providers and community health workers.
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