State Rep. Matthew Bierlein, of Vassar, is fighting for people he represents in Bay, Genesee, Saginaw and Tuscola counties to have access to care they need, and that critical resources intended for a specific purpose are going to where they are intended.

Bierlein today questioned a plan from the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services that would allow the state’s largest counties to qualify for federal rural healthcare grants intended to support rural hospitals. Under MDHHS’s eligibility criteria, some of Michigan’s most populous counties – even Oakland and Wayne – are labeled as ‘partially rural,’ making them eligible to receive the grants that are to be awarded and distributed by December.

“I am completely opposed to this move. This would be an extremely unfair redistribution of dollars that are supposed to be going to our rural communities,” Bierlein said. “These funds help support our care facilities, including some that are already strained as they provide services. These funds ensure people aren’t in the car for long periods of time when they’re going to get care, which is especially important for our most vulnerable. Taking this away ultimately means hardship and fewer positive outcomes for patients, and that’s wrong.”

The signing of the One Big Beautiful Bill at the federal level created The Rural Health Transformation (RHT) program, which spurs improved healthcare access and outcomes in rural communities. States were authorized to apply for a share of $10 billion in federal funding that is distributed annually.

Despite ranking among the top ten states for rural population, Michigan received just $173.1 million – placing it in the bottom ten states nationwide. Neighboring states such as Iowa ($209 million) and Ohio ($202 million) secured significantly more funding.

The Department also plans to withhold nearly $19 million from Michigan’s RHT allocation for administrative costs, including $2 million for salaries, benefits, and travel for 12 new positions – averaging nearly $170,000 per employee.

Bierlein, who chairs the House Oversight Subcommittee on Public Health and Food Security, said he is looking at bringing officials from MDHHS in to testify for a hearing on the plans.

“People deserve answers on how this type of decision was reached and the fallout it would create,” Bierlein said.