PICKAWAY COUNTY, Ohio — Governor Mike DeWine and the Ohio Department of Health (ODH) have announced $3.15 million in new grant awards to expand pharmacy connectivity and bolster health care access for residents in rural Ohio communities.
The funding comes through the state’s Rural Health Transformation (RHT) Program. Under the initiative, the Ohio Pharmacists Association (OPA) will receive $2 million, while the State of Ohio Board of Pharmacy will receive $1.15 million to build digital infrastructure and support rural pharmacy operations.
“Rural Ohio has faced pharmacy shortages leaving Ohioans without access to critical healthcare necessities like medications and other basic needs,” Governor DeWine said. “This funding specifically addresses the gaps in rural areas to bring together pharmacies so Ohioans have the resources they need in their own community.”
The grants are backed by a larger $202 million federal allocation awarded to Ohio by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).
“The 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 to both primary and specialty care is a critical step toward achieving that vision for Ohioans.”
DeWine, Tressel Highlight Defense Tech Growth on ‘Heart of Opportunity’ Tour
The health care announcement coincided with the seventh stop of Governor DeWine and Lt. Governor Jim Tressel’s “Heart of Opportunity Tour,” held Wednesday at Anduril Industries in Pickaway County.
The California-based defense technology firm recently expanded into Central Ohio with a massive economic development project expected to bring 4,000 new jobs—marking the single largest job-creation project in state history.
State leaders met with company executives to discuss Ohio’s growing footprint in the aviation, aerospace, and defense sectors, emphasizing workforce development partnerships with local universities and community colleges to fill advanced manufacturing roles.
