State Senator April Weaver to Lead Rural Healthcare Initiative
State Senator April Weaver, a Republican from Brierfield, has been appointed to spearhead a statewide initiative aimed at improving healthcare access in rural Alabama.
Weaver will co-chair the Healthcare Committee for the Rural Roadmap Initiative, which is responsible for formulating policies and legislation to tackle persistent disparities in rural healthcare. She will work alongside state legislator Philip Riggsby from Monrovia.
The Rural Roadmap Initiative is part of the Alabama Growth Alliance, a partnership between public and private sectors designed to foster economic development in the state’s underserved areas. Besides healthcare, the initiative also targets advancements in infrastructure, workforce development, business growth, and enhancing the quality of life overall.
Senate President Pro Tem Gugger, who oversees the initiative, expressed strong support for Weaver’s selection.
“President Trump recognized April Weaver’s capabilities in directing healthcare policies across the Southeastern United States during his first term. The same skills that he saw in her will be instrumental in making our already great state even better,” Gugger stated.
Gugger highlighted Weaver’s qualifications, including her knowledge, experience, and deep connections to Alabama’s rural communities, as reasons why she is an ideal fit for leading this healthcare committee.
Alabama’s rural healthcare system has faced significant challenges for over ten years. Since 2011, at least six rural hospitals have shut down due to economic burdens. Among the remaining 52 facilities, around half are deemed vulnerable, and an estimated 20 may close soon.
The committee led by Weaver will explore strategies to keep these essential hospitals operational. Additionally, they will focus on recruiting and retaining healthcare professionals, enhancing broadband services, and ensuring rural populations have access to necessary medical care.
Weaver, a registered nurse with extensive experience in healthcare management and policy, previously held a prominent role during President Trump’s administration. She served as the Regional IV Director for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, overseeing operations in eight Southeastern states, including Alabama and several others, alongside six federally recognized Indian tribes.
In 2023, Weaver was instrumental in the passing of the Physicians Workforce Act, simplifying the process for out-of-state doctors to practice medicine in Alabama. By 2025, Alabama had become one of the top five states attracting these doctors.
At the 2025 legislative session, Weaver also played a key role in advancing a measure for local hospital investment tax credits, introducing a state credit for contributions from individuals and businesses to Rural Medical Centers in Alabama. This initiative aims to provide crucial support to struggling hospitals.
