Lawmakers Visit UT Tyler to Discuss Rural Health Transformation Program

Cornyn and Moran meet with healthcare providers, educators, and community leaders to learn about the $281 million in federal funding for Texas

Apr. 9, 2026 at 11:05am

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An abstract, translucent X-ray image revealing the internal structure of a rural hospital building as a glowing, ghostly outline against a dark background, conceptually representing the challenges of providing quality healthcare access in remote areas.A ghostly X-ray view of a rural Texas hospital, symbolizing the critical need to modernize and strengthen healthcare infrastructure in underserved communities.Tyler Today

Senators John Cornyn and Nathaniel Moran visited the University of Texas at Tyler Health Science Center to participate in a roundtable discussion about the local impact of the Rural Health Transformation Program (RHTP), a $50 billion federal initiative to strengthen rural healthcare infrastructure and increase access across the state.

Why it matters

The RHTP aims to help rural hospitals, clinics, and providers modernize their health systems and meet growing access demands. With 14 rural hospital closures in Texas over the past 10 years and 60% of rural hospitals no longer delivering babies, this federal funding is critical to improving healthcare outcomes in underserved communities.

The details

The lawmakers met with a panel of healthcare providers, educators, students, and community leaders to learn about the six approved funding initiatives under the RHTP, including chronic disease management, technology adoption, workforce development, cybersecurity, opioid treatment, and value-based care. The state of Texas will be hiring 30 people to administer the 'Texas Strong' program and ensure that 90% of the $281 million in federal funds go directly to rural communities.

  • The roundtable discussion took place on April 8, 2026.
  • The RHTP was established by the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, which was passed by Congress and signed into law in July 2025.

The players

Sen. John Cornyn

A Republican senator from Texas who voted for the RHTP legislation and advocated for Texas to receive the largest share of funding.

Rep. Nathaniel Moran

The U.S. Representative for Texas's 1st congressional district, who joined Cornyn in visiting the UT Tyler Health Science Center.

Dr. Julie Philley

The president of the University of Texas at Tyler, who hosted the roundtable discussion.

Kevin Lambing

A consultant with the Texas Organization of Rural Community Hospitals who provided details on Texas's RHTP proposal and funding initiatives.

Luke Schwartz

A third-year medical student and UT student regent who spoke about the importance of retaining healthcare providers in rural areas.

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What they’re saying

“It's a hard problem. The economics of rural culture are challenging, but as the population of our state grows, we continue to get high-quality, accessible care.”

— Sen. John Cornyn

“In our district, we heard today from counties who had their rural hospital shut down and I know also one of our counties, Marion County, has no medical facility, no doctor, no pharmacy in that entire county. That's just not acceptable, so when we're looking at these deserts, where there's no opportunity for quick access to quality health care to exist, we're looking for partnerships with folks like UT Health East Texas to go into these areas.”

— Rep. Nathaniel Moran

“At the end of the day rural health transformation isn't just about structural funding, it's about people. For those of us who grew up here, the goal isn't just to practice medicine, but it's to give back to the community that got us to where we are today.”

— Luke Schwartz, Third-year med student and UT student regent

What’s next

The state of Texas will be issuing Notices of Funding Opportunities (NOFOs) for each of the six RHTP initiatives in the coming months, allowing rural healthcare providers and communities to apply for the federal funding.

The takeaway

The Rural Health Transformation Program represents a significant federal investment in improving healthcare access and outcomes for rural Texans, who have faced growing challenges with hospital closures and provider shortages. By engaging local stakeholders and targeting specific needs, the program aims to strengthen the rural healthcare infrastructure and ensure all Texans can receive the care they need, no matter where they live.