CMS Awards $5.48 Million to Rhode Island for Rural Healthcare Workforce Development

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services awarded $5.48 million to Rhode Island to expand healthcare workforce training and recruitment in rural areas. The funding supports workforce pipeline development through the Medicare Rural Hospital Flexibility Program. The grant aims to address provider shortages affecting access to care in underserved rural communities. While focused on Medicare rural hospital program infrastructure, workforce development in these areas may indirectly affect Medicaid beneficiary access where providers serve dual-eligible and Medicaid populations.