MADISON — Wisconsin has submitted a $1 billion funding request to the federal government to address improve rural health care access.

The Wisconsin Department of Health Services outlined three main priorities for the requested funds:

$337 million for recruiting and retaining health care workers

$329 million for technology and innovation initiatives

$279 million to strengthen rural care partnerships

The funding request is part of the federal Rural Health Transformation Program (RHT), a $50 billion fund born from the Trump administration's 'Big Beautiful Bill' signed into law this summer. The program was designed partly to offset concerns over Medicaid cuts included in the same bill.

John Eich, the director of Wisconsin's Office of Rural Health said states are not able use the RHT t

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