Governor Brian Kemp Directs $85 Million in State Surplus Capital to Stabilize Rural Emergency Rooms

ATLANTA, GA — Governor Brian Kemp announced the allocation of $85 million from Georgia’s state revenue surplus to establish the Rural Hospital Emergency Stabilization Fund, delivering direct capital grants to 28 independent critical-access hospitals across rural South and Central Georgia.

Protecting Critical Rural Healthcare Access

The funding packages provide up to $3 million per facility to replace aging CT scanners, modernize telemetry intensive care units, and fund physician loan forgiveness bonuses to recruit and retain board-certified emergency room doctors in medically underserved counties. Governor Kemp noted that preserving rural emergency rooms is critical to both community health and regional economic development.

Governor Kemp emphasized that every Georgia family, regardless of geographic ZIP code, deserves rapid access to lifesaving emergency medical care.

Hospital Association and Rural Caucus Reactions

The Georgia Hospital Association (GHA) commended the direct capital support, noting that rural emergency facilities face elevated uncompensated care costs.

Bipartisan Rural Caucus lawmakers praised the targeted physician loan forgiveness grants for addressing doctor shortages.

Grant Disbursement Milestones

The Georgia Department of Community Health will disburse the initial tranche of hospital stabilization funds by September 30, 2026.