Congressman Ciscomani, CMS Administrator Dr. Oz Visit Banner Casa Grande to Highlight Rural Health Investments
'Appreciate Dr. Oz taking the time to see a health care facility in Casa Grande and hear directly from those on the front lines'
Casa Grande, AZ - Congressman Juan Ciscomani joined Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) Administrator Dr. Mehmet Oz on Friday for a visit to Banner Casa Grande Medical Center, where they met with local health care leaders to discuss efforts to strengthen rural health care access across Arizona. During the visit, Congressman Ciscomani and Administrator Oz toured the facility and engaged with more 10 stakeholders representing health care providers from Arizona’s 6th Congressional District – from Graham County to Cochise County to Marana – who shared firsthand the challenges and opportunities facing rural health systems.
Banner Casa Grande Medical Center is a cornerstone of regional health, with 141 private patient rooms and a comprehensive suite of services, including behavioral and mental health, emergency care, heart and imaging services, maternity care, surgery, rehabilitation, and women’s health. The center also directs medical operations for over a dozen emergency medical service providers in Pinal County and maintains a BannerAir helicopter on campus for rapid response.
"From touring local health care facilities to meeting directly with providers, community leaders, and stakeholders, hosting Dr. Oz in our congressional district was an important opportunity to highlight the real needs, challenges and opportunities of our community," said Congressman Ciscomani. "In a district where access to care can often mean long travel times and limited resources, it is critical that rural communities are not overlooked in national health care discussions. I appreciate Dr. Oz taking the time to see a health care facility in Casa Grande and hear directly from those on the front lines, while sharing his commitment to strengthening rural health care access, supporting providers, and ensuring families in Southeastern Arizona can receive the quality care they deserve."
"Every community faces different challenges to accessing health care services, but each is equally deserving of that care. The Rural Health Transformation Fund, which is providing a generational investment in rural communities is just one way in which the Trump administration is working to secure access to care across the nation," said CMS Administrator Dr. Mehmet Oz. "I’m grateful to Congressman Ciscomani for his leadership on behalf of rural Arizonans as well as the team at Banner Cases Grande Medical Center for giving me an up closer look at how they deliver health care in a rural setting."
"We are honored to showcase the vital role Banner Health plays in delivering quality care and comprehensive coverage to rural communities," said Marjorie Bessel, MD, chief clinical officer at Banner Health. "Our mission is to serve our neighbors, improve health outcomes, and reduce the total cost of care. We are grateful for this meaningful dialogue with representatives from the state and federal level and look forward to working together to achieve our shared goals of improving the health and well-being of the communities we serve."
As Arizona’s sole appropriator in Congress, Congressman Ciscomani has been a leading advocate for investments that strengthen rural health care access and improve health outcomes for families across Arizona. Through the FY2026 appropriations process, he helped secure $100 million for the MAHA initiative to combat chronic disease, $418 million for rural health programs, $10 million in grants and technical assistance for rural low-volume hospitals to compile cost data, an additional $3 million to support HHS implementation efforts, and a $99 million increase for the NIH Innovation Account.
The FY2026 funding package also included $100 million for the Office of Research on Women’s Health — a $23.5 million increase above FY2024 levels — along with specific language addressing diseases that disproportionately or differently affect women at the cellular level. Additionally, the legislation directs the NIH to prioritize research on menopause and its various stages to advance women’s health outcomes.
Congressman Ciscomani remains committed to addressing the unique health care needs of Arizona’s rural communities across Cochise, Graham, Greenlee, and Pinal Counties, as well as parts of Pima County, to help ensure families can access high-quality, reliable care close to home.
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