Missouri

Federal funds are supporting expansion of maternal and behavioral healthcare access in rural Missouri. This effort targets critical health needs in underserved rural communities.

The Trump Administration announced more than $2.3 million of RHTP funding to support health care workers and expand rural health care in Missouri.

The document announces a webinar titled 'Webinar Rhtp Navigating Application' for Missouri related to rural health transformation program guidance.

Missouri secured $218 million in Year 2 funding to expand rural healthcare access under the Rural Health Transformation Program. This funding is aimed at strengthening rural healthcare infrastructure and services statewide.

This budget template guides MIH-CP applicants in structuring personnel, equipment, supplies (including SDOH), and travel costs. Network partner contracts may be allowed, and leveraged/in-kind resources should be documented. No explicit site funding limit is set; requests may vary per local need.

This document outlines a two-phase grant application supporting EMS agencies in Missouri pursuing collaboration or consolidation efforts. Phase I provides funding for planning activities such as feasibility studies and stakeholder engagement, whereas Phase II supports implementation of consolidation plans with focus on governance, staffing, and operational integration.

Missouri launched the first year of its RHTP implementation with over $216 million in federal funding, focusing on transforming rural health through the state’s ToRCH Care model. Early investments support modernization of facilities, maternal health workforce development, behavioral health service expansion, rural EMS training, and childcare support for healthcare workers. Competitive regional awards through local Hubs and new digital backbone initiatives are key pillars for community-driven transformation. Key contacts: Justin Duncan Event schedule: - RHTP Digital Backbone Provider Application Webinar - November 17, 2026 - 10:00 AM CT - Webinar (registration online) - Workforce Retention and Enablers Funding Webinar - November 12, 2026 - 2:00 PM CT - Webinar (registration online) - Proposal Window (Workforce Retention/Enablers Funding) - 11/02/2026 - Proposal Window End (Workforce Retention/Enablers Funding) - 11/22/2026 - Leadership Boards Review Proposals - 11/23/2026 - Aggregated Proposal Submission Deadline - 12/07/2026 - Final Approvals/Agreements Signed - 12/18/2026

CMS approved Missouri's $216 million RHTP Year 1 budget, immediately launching the ToRCH Care network. Investments span digital modernization, alternative payment models, workforce expansion, network and hub development, and provider stabilization. Efforts are underway to activate regional healthcare networks, modernize infrastructure, and build a sustainable workforce pipeline focused on vulnerable rural communities.

Missouri will use its share of the $50B RHTP grant to activate seven Regional Coordinating Networks and approximately thirty community Hubs, supporting over one hundred counties. Strategic initiatives include shared technology infrastructure (Digital Backbone), alternative payment model piloting, workforce pipeline and retention programs, and modernization of rural provider operations. The ToRCH Care model emphasizes coordinated care through local Hubs, EHR upgrades, social-care referral platforms, and targeted expansions such as EMS development and maternal health in rural areas. Key contacts: Rural Health Transformation Office DSS.RHTP@dss.mo.gov Event schedule: - Official Hub boundary release - 2026-05-15 - Hub Anchor application release - 2026-05-15 - Hub Anchor applicant webinar - 2026-05-15 - ToRCH Care introductory roadshows - 2026-05-15 - Missouri (regional, in-person) - Horizon 1 implementation - 2026-04-01 - Horizon 2 implementation - 2026-07-01 - Horizon 3 implementation - 2027-01-01

Missouri's RHTP project invests $1 billion over five years to establish a new rural healthcare delivery structure called ToRCH Care. The project launches 30 local community hubs and 7 regional coordinating networks to expand access, improve rural hospital stability, and modernize digital and workforce infrastructure. Initiatives cover alternative payment models, health IT modernization, workforce pipelines, maternal health, and facility upgrades.

The program is led by the Missouri Department of Social Services’ MO HealthNet Division and aims to increase access to care, improve quality, enhance care coordination, and incentivize sustainability. Missouri's plan was developed collaboratively with multiple state agencies and key healthcare stakeholders, emphasizing locally driven, innovative solutions for rural health disparities. Event schedule: - RHT Program Award Announcement - December 29, 2025 - Jefferson City

CMS awarded Missouri $216M for RHTP, with $56M specifically for the Digital Backbone initiative, the state's core health IT investment. Over 929 rural facilities participated in the Digital Readiness Survey, establishing a robust baseline for tracking progress and guiding future investments. Major goals include statewide EHR adoption, improved interoperability, expanded telehealth, provider transformation, and embedding advanced technologies like ambient AI and remote monitoring. The program operates on a five-year timeline, refining priorities year by year through annual surveys and milestone tracking. Event schedule: - Digital Readiness Survey Administration - 2026 - Statewide, Missouri

The report compiles population, Medicaid enrollment, and health statistics for each of Missouri's 27 rural health transformation hubs. Diabetes and hypertension rates remain elevated compared to national averages, with notable variation between hubs. Maternal health indicators and ED utilization are also tracked at the local level, facilitating targeted interventions.

The University of Missouri School of Medicine’s Center for Child Well-Being has received $6.4 million as part of Missouri’s $216 million allocation from the federal Rural Health Transformation program. Funds will support the Missouri Child Psychiatry Access Project (MO-CPAP) and the Maternal Health Access Project (MHAP), as well as workforce retention efforts. The initiatives provide rural providers with specialist access via consultation, referrals, education, and care coordination.

Upcoming Oklahoma RHTP engagement opportunities with webinar and in-person events. Event schedule: - Date Mentioned - 10/29/2026

Missouri has budgeted seven Regional EMS & MIH-CP Ambassador positions across the state to support rural EMS and Community Paramedicine. These Ambassadors act as key connectors between local hubs, EMS agencies, and statewide leadership, enhancing communication and regional collaboration.

This document presents links to three separate press releases announcing multiple investments in Missouri rural health care totaling over $261 million. Specific award amounts and program details are not included here.