Ohio Commits $55 Million to Rural Health Access
Gov. Mike DeWine and the Ohio Department of Health are funding school-based health centers and oral and eye care across the state.
Updated on Nov. 5, 2026 in Healthcare
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Ohio Governor Mike DeWine and the Ohio Department of Health announced more than $55 million for rural health care access, funded in part through the federal Rural Health Transformation Program. The package supports 17 new school-based health center sites in 15 counties and expansion of OhioSEE statewide.
Why it matters
School-based health centers reduce transportation and provider-access barriers for families in rural areas, bringing primary care directly onto school campuses. The funding gives Ohio residents in underserved counties more local options for routine and preventive care.
More than $55 million in state and federal funding is directed to rural health access, with $20 million going to 17 new sites and 49 existing centers in 25 counties. OhioSEE, which has reached 252 public school districts, will expand from a 15-county pilot to all 88 counties with $18 million in state funding.
The players
Mike DeWine
Mike DeWine is the Governor of Ohio, a Republican who has led the state since 2019 and is known for his focus on public health initiatives.
Ohio Department of Health
The Ohio Department of Health is the state agency responsible for public health programs, disease prevention, and health care access initiatives across Ohio's 88 counties.
The details
DeWine launched OhioSEE in January as a 15-county pilot, and within that pilot area 91% of eligible public school districts now participate. The program brings eye care into schools through mobile vision vans or temporary clinics, and the state plans more than $17 million in oral health initiatives.
Timeline
January: DeWine launches OhioSEE as a 15-county pilot.
November 5, 2026: Marion County is announced to receive funding for a new school-based health center.
Roadmap
Ohio's allocation builds on $202,030,262 in federal funding from the Rural Health Transformation Program, which is now being converted into school-based clinics, mobile eye care, and oral health programs. The state's approach reflects a broader federal push to address rural health gaps through community-level access points rather than hospital-based care alone.
Families in the 17 new school-based health center sites and the 49 expanded centers can access primary care on school campuses without separate travel to a provider. OhioSEE's expansion to all 88 counties means students statewide can receive eye care through mobile vans or temporary clinics.
The takeaway
Expanding care into schools addresses access problems that transportation and provider shortages create for rural families. Watching how quickly the new sites open and how many students they serve will show whether the model delivers on its goals.
Further reading
Explore more on Healthcare coverage tied to state-level access initiatives.
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