North Dakota Offering $2 Million To Fund Rural Medical Transport Vehicles

North Dakota Health and Human Services is offering $2 million in federal funding to help rural health care organizations purchase accessible vehicles for patients who need transportation to medical appointments and other essential services.

The funding is available through the Non-Emergency Medical Transportation Acquisition opportunity within the North Dakota Rural Health Transformation Program. HHS expects to award about four grants of approximately $500,000 each.

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“You can't benefit from healthcare if you can't get there,” said HHS Commissioner Pat Traynor. “For many North Dakotans, transportation is one of the biggest barriers to getting the care they need. These investments will help communities remove that barrier, making it easier for people to reach appointments, stay connected to care and achieve better health outcomes.”

The funding can be used to purchase accessible vans, larger passenger vehicles equipped for wheelchair users and other transportation vehicles designed to help rural residents reach health care.

Eligible applicants include rural hospitals, clinics, federally qualified health centers, non-federally operated Indian Health Service facilities, and tribally operated 638 health facilities that are enrolled Medicaid providers in good standing. Applicants must serve rural North Dakota residents, including Medicaid members.

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Organizations located in Bismarck, Fargo, West Fargo, and Grand Forks are considered urban under the program and are not eligible.

Applications due Aug. 19

Applicants must demonstrate transportation needs in their communities and explain how a vehicle would improve access to care. Funding is intended to help residents overcome transportation barriers, improve care coordination, and potentially reduce avoidable emergency department visits.

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Applications are due by 5 p.m. Central time Aug. 19. Funding agreements will run through Aug. 31, 2027, and all awarded funds must be spent during the project period.

More information and application materials are available through the North Dakota Rural Health Transformation Program.