SANDPOINT — Bonner General Hospital is slated to receive more than $5.8 million in Rural Health Transformation Program funding, state officials announced Wednesday.

The Sandpoint hospital will receive $ 5,802,164.90, split among two grants, about $3.69 million to support a multispecialty healthcare suite and about $2.12 million to support a Meditech-related technology investment.

"We appreciate the state's commitment to strengthening rural healthcare and look forward to putting these investments to work for the benefit of our patients and community," John Hennessy, Bonner General Health CEO, said.

Hennessy said hospital officials are grateful to Gov. Brad Little, the state and the Rural Health Transformation Program for awarding funding to support the two important initiatives.

"The multi-specialty procedure suite will expand our ability to provide outpatient procedures locally, improve access to care, and increase operating room capacity for more complex surgical cases," Hennessy said. "Our electronic medical record project will transition five separate systems into a single MEDITECH Expanse platform, enhancing communication, streamlining workflows, and strengthening care coordination across our organization."

The CEO said the projects have been strategic priorities for several years, and the RHTP funding are critical to making them happen.

"For a rural hospital, investments like these are especially meaningful because they help ensure patients can access high-quality care close to home while providing our healthcare teams with the tools and resources they need to deliver that care effectively," Hennessy said. 

Also receiving grants in the region are the Kootenai Tribe of Idaho, which receives $469,592.27 in grant funding and the Coeur d'Alene Tribe of Idaho, which receives $2,316,125.15.

The grants, totaling roughly $186 million, were announced by Idaho Gov. Brad Little Wednesday as part of the first year of grant funding through the program, which aims to strengthen and modernize health care in rural communities.

The first year of the awards was distributed in alignment with Idaho’s plan, which focused on benefits to Idaho citizens through hospital networks, shared infrastructure, regional programs, and mobile services.

“For many Idaho families – especially in rural areas – affordable, accessible health care is a real concern," Little said in a press release. "This investment recognizes those challenges and puts resources where they’re needed most. It helps strengthen local health care and ensures Idahoans can get the affordable care they need, no matter where they live."

The funds are part of close to $1 billion over five years awarded to Idaho by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services to improve rural health care. The funds come from H.R. 1, The Working Families Tax Cuts Act.

Little said that nearly all of Idaho’s counties are considered rural, and many communities face challenges related to access, workforce shortages, financial sustainability, and distance from care. The funding is intended to address those challenges through system-wide improvements and long-term investments.

Idaho’s application was submitted by the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare in consultation with the Idaho Rural Health Task Force, which included legislative leaders, tribal representatives and executive branch officials. Public comment was sought through a statewide survey that garnered 500 responses representing every county. In addition, the Legislature’s Rural Health Transformation Committee worked alongside the executive branch to determine distribution of funds.

“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 Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Administrator Dr. Mehmet Oz. “Funding new approaches to strengthen local healthcare capacity and expand access to care is an important step toward achieving that vision for rural Idaho and I look forward to seeing RHTP dollars support equally transformative innovations for rural communities nationwide.”

Task force members said the funding gives Idaho's communities a chance to strengthen local hospitals, recruit and keep health care professionals, and invest in practical solutions.

"I'm proud of the work that brought us to this point, and I'm excited to see these investments improve care for Idaho families across our state,” said Sen. Julie VanOrden, co-chair of the Idaho Rural Health Task Force.

Rep. Jordan Redman, co-chair of the Idaho Rural Health Task Force, agreed, noting the program presents a unique opportunity to embrace technology and innovative care models to deliver care in our rural communities.

"Together, we are building lasting solutions that improve access and strengthen health care for Idaho families for years to come," Redman said.

The program's funds give Idaho a chance to pursue solutions developed in the state's communities, Idaho Department of Health & Welfare officials said.

"By listening to providers, patients, and local leaders, the state can make targeted investments that support sustainable, high-quality care closer to home,” DHW Director Juliet Charron said.