BROWNFIELD, Texas — The hospital district behind Brownfield Regional Medical Center (BRMC) is among 68 rural hospital districts selected to receive $750,000 each through the first round of Texas’ Rural Texas Strong initiative.
Gov. Greg Abbott announced the $51 million in federal funding Monday, Sept. 28. The grants are intended to help rural communities create or improve programs focused on prevention, wellness, nutrition and chronic disease care. The state plan identifies diabetes, cardiovascular disease, chronic respiratory disease and obesity as conditions the programs may address.
BRMC CEO Kyle Barnett confirmed that the hospital district is working through budget negotiations for the funding. He said its award will operate as a reimbursement grant: after the district’s budget is approved, it must spend money on activities that meet the grant criteria, submit the required information, and wait to be reimbursed.
“This is year one of a 5-year grant which is focused on community education, preventative wellness, chronic disease care, and obesity management,” Barnett said. He added that the district must submit monthly and quarterly reports to demonstrate compliance throughout the grant period.
Barnett called the funding “a great opportunity for Terry County” that could increase access to care and improve its quality. He also emphasized the work required to receive the funds: “It will require a significant amount of hours solely on grant reporting and compliance to ensure that we are able to continue to receive reimbursements throughout the grant term!”
The state’s plan gives participating districts several ways to address local needs. Possible uses include chronic disease screenings, nutrition education, partnerships to improve access to healthy food, transportation to medical appointments and pharmacies, and remote monitoring for some patients. BRMC has not yet announced which specific projects it will pursue.
“Every community in Texas deserves a health system that provides high-quality, accessible care,” Abbott said in announcing the awards.
The $51 million is part of a broader federal Rural Health Transformation Program. According to the governor’s office, Texas received about $281.3 million for the program’s first year and expects an estimated $1.4 billion over five years. Rural Texas Strong includes six initiatives addressing rural healthcare needs; this first round of awards focuses on community prevention and wellness.
