Lee Health gets $1.95M to expand rural healthcare 

Fort Myers-based Lee Health is expanding access to care in Hendry and Glades counties with a $1.95 million state grant from Florida’s Rural Health Transformation Program. 

The grant to Lee Health was one of more than 80 awards totaling nearly $188 million across 31 rural counties, according to a release from Gov. Ron DeSantis’ office. The rural health initiative is administered by the state’s Agency for Health Care Administration. 

Lee Health, one of the state’s 20 largest healthcare systems, gained greater flexibility to expand services beyond Lee County after converting from a public health system to a private nonprofit model in late 2024. 

Katie Larsen, Lee Health’s director of government relations, said in a statement that the initiative will help establish a sustainable rural care model. 

“As Lee Health continues to grow its regional presence, the lessons and best practices developed through this program could help inform future efforts to enhance care access in other underserved communities across Southwest Florida,” she said. 

Larsen said the funding will help address common rural healthcare challenges in the region through expanded access to urgent and walk-in care, greater availability of telehealth services, improved care navigation and stronger connections to social support services. 

“These efforts are intended to make care more accessible and convenient for residents while reducing the need to travel long distances for routine, urgent and specialty care services,” Larsen said. 

She said Hendry and Glades counties are designated by AHCA as rural communities eligible for the program and that the initiative will specifically expand Lee Health services in LaBelle and Clewiston, both in Hendry County, and Moore Haven in Glades County. 

In LaBelle, the funds will help expand walk-in convenient care services and outpatient laboratory capabilities at the existing Lee Health satellite clinic at 930 S. Main St., including enhanced diagnostic capabilities through digital X-ray, EKG and point-of-care lab equipment. 

In Clewiston, an OnMed CareStation telehealth kiosk will be installed, and Moore Haven, which currently has one kiosk, will receive a second. 

Larsen said the $1.95 million investment will support the infrastructure, technology and operational resources needed to improve the delivery of healthcare in rural areas. 

“By bringing care closer to where people live and creating new pathways to specialty services and community resources, the initiative helps address some of the most significant access barriers facing rural residents,” Larsen said.