Burns Flat, OK – The South Western Oklahoma Development Authority has been awarded $2.6 million to expand access to wellness services for rural residents.

The funding comes through the Oklahoma Rural Health Transformation Program, which focuses on improving health outcomes in rural communities across the state. The program is supported by a $50 billion investment from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, authorized through the One Big Beautiful Bill Act.

Working with the Oklahoma Association of Regional Councils, the Oklahoma Department of Transportation, hospitals, clinics and local stakeholders, SWODA will use the funding to improve transportation options and strengthen coordination between health care providers and transit services.

The organization plans to develop a long term regional model that could be expanded statewide.

SWODA will lead implementation of the Rural Mobility Access Program alongside its existing Southwest Oklahoma Regional Transportation Organization mileage reimbursement program.

Program components include a low bandwidth ride dispatch and scheduling system connecting clinics, drivers and patients, recruitment of regional mobility navigators to assist residents, mileage reimbursement and volunteer driver programs, vehicle support for rural transit providers, and regional coordination agreements to improve collaboration among health systems, transit agencies and community organizations.

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