Alaska Rolls Out $30 Million Rural Health Grants, Revives Fitness Test

Alaska health officials handed out $30 million from the Rural Health Transformation Program on Friday. This money is part of a $272 million federal package meant to boost care in far‑flung areas and to cushion future Medicaid cuts. About $237 million still awaits hospitals, clinics, local governments and Alaska Native groups.

State agencies are also in the mix, receiving $12 million total. The Department of Corrections and the Office of Children’s Services got portions after submitting proposals internally, not competing with outside applicants. Officials say more agency awards will follow.

A $1.1 million slice will bring back the Presidential Physical Fitness Test in schools. The program, dropped in 2012 and revived last year, will use the funds for teacher and coach training and to buy needed equipment. The education department calls it a win for students and communities.

Other grants include $4 million for telemedicine services in prisons, $5 million for a new information‑technology system for child services, and $1 million for a health‑workforce training program at the University of Alaska Fairbanks. The average award is under $700,000, prompting a fast‑paced scramble to meet strict federal rules.