FORT SCOTT, Kan. — Freeman Fort Scott Hospital Inc. plans to use a $2,502,999 federal grant to purchase and install a new MRI machine and expand local imaging services, the hospital told the Bourbon County Monitor.
The award comes through the Kansas Rural Health Transformation Program, a federally funded effort to strengthen rural health care access, workforce, technology and long-term sustainability. Federal rules limit the money to uses approved in the law and the program's funding notice, and restrict it from being redirected to other expenses
Kevin McClintock, Freeman Healthy Systems media relations coordinator, told the Monitor in a statement that the funding is designated solely for the new MRI machine, associated equipment and renovation of the existing MRI room, along with allowable related costs.
"The $2.5 million award is limited to this capital project and cannot be used for general operations, facility maintenance, or other financial obligations. The addition of MRI services represents an important investment in local healthcare access, allowing patients to receive advanced imaging services close to home."
"Freeman will continue to look for opportunities to increase access to quality care in its rural communities, including Fort Scott," McClintock added.
According to a Freeman press release announcing the awards, the hospital was chosen from a competitive pool of 73 applications. It was one of 17 Kansas-based health care facilities to receive a Rural Emergency Hospital Conversion/Transformative Capital Investment Program grant through the Kansas Department of Health and Environment. The state distributed a total of $29.1 million across the selected locations, the release said, making Freeman's award the fourth highest in Kansas.
In the release, Anita Walden, chief administrative officer of Freeman Fort Scott Hospital Inc., called the grant a milestone for the region.
"This award represents a significant investment in the future of healthcare in Fort Scott, Bourbon County, and the surrounding region," Walden said.
She added that the hospital was "incredibly grateful for the support provided through the Rural Health Transformation Program and for the confidence placed in Freeman Fort Scott Hospital's vision for improving access to care for the community we serve."
The grant money stems from a $221 million allocation Kansas received last December from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services under the federal H.R. 1 bill, according to the release. The legislation provides $50 billion over five years to reshape rural health care infrastructure nationwide.
Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly said in the release that the program is meant to strengthen rural health systems through infrastructure improvements.
"By supporting regional partnerships, rural hospitals, and critical infrastructure improvements, the Rural Health Transformation Program is empowering communities to strengthen local health systems, improve access to high-quality care, and build a more sustainable future for rural Kansans," Kelly said.
Freeman Fort Scott Hospital features a six-bed emergency department and a 10-bed acute care unit. More than 3,400 local residents have used the emergency department in the last eight months, according to the release. The hospital opened in September 2025.
More details on the Rural Health Transformation Program can be found here:
