(Southeastern IN) – Gov. Mike Braun says Southeastern Indiana has been awarded $13 million in Growing Rural Opportunities for Well-Being (GROW) initiative grants.
GROW is focused on improving healthcare access, quality and outcomes in rural communities across the state and supported by the Indiana Rural Health Transformation Program (RHTP).
Southeastern Indiana is in GROW Region 6,. which includes Dearborn, Decatur, Franklin, Ripley, Jefferson, Jennings, Ohio, Rush, Scott, Shelby and Switzerland counties.
The initiative is administered by the Indiana Department of Health (IDOH) and Family and Social Services Administration (FSSA).
Indiana received nearly $207 million for the first year of the five-year federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) grant program.
About $120 million, or 60% of that funding, was earmarked for the regional grants.
“The Trump Administration’s Rural Health Transformation Program is based on one simple idea: your access to quality health care shouldn’t depend on your ZIP code,” said CMS Administrator Dr. Mehmet Oz. “Funding new approaches to expand access and improve health outcomes for rural Hoosiers is an important step toward achieving that vision and I look forward to seeing RHTP dollars support equally transformative innovations for rural communities nationwide.”
“This funding is a major step forward in our commitment to making health care affordable and accessible for all Hoosiers,” Gov. Braun said. “It’s an important stride toward creating a more sustainable and connected network in rural Indiana.”
Region 6 GROW grant activities include:
- Expand primary, preventive, dental, behavioral health, maternal-infant, and trauma care while addressing community needs like food security, transportation, and digital literacy.
- Prescribe-the-Y: Support diabetes and hypertension management through clinical-to-community referrals into YMCA exercise and coaching programs.
- Expand Catch-a-Ride: Improve access to medical appointments, pharmacies and essential services for rural residents in Region 6.
- Build durable regional capacity through workforce pipeline pathways, interoperable digital health systems (IHIE/EHR), and shared governance.
Rural Health Transformation Program’s GROW will now move into implementation building on a foundation of strong collaboration, local leadership and meaningful impact from targeted activities.
Region 6’s award complements the seven other regions that received GROW regional grant.
RHTP also includes 11 statewide initiatives that promote workforce investment, thoughtful partnerships and infrastructure development.
Additional information about the GROW regional grants and 11 statewide initiatives are available on the RHTP website growruralhealth.in.gov.
