Missouri

Missouri announced the launch of Rural Health Transformation Hub Anchors in July 2026. The initiative focuses on network development to support rural hospitals and aid Medicaid transformation. No specific award details or recipients are provided in this document. Event schedule: - Announcement - July 2026

Superseded by MO - 2026 - Rural Health Transformation Hub Anchors Announced (July 2026)

Missouri was awarded $216M for Year 1 of the Rural Health Transformation Program (RHTP), the 9th-highest in the country, to stabilize and transform rural healthcare. Funding is distributed across five strategic pillars plus statewide program enablement, focusing on network-building, workforce expansion, payment reform, digital modernization, and provider strengthening. Efforts emphasize sustainable system changes with measurable performance goals and deep stakeholder engagement.

Missouri received $216.3 million in Year 1 RHTP funding, distributing over 90% to five major pillars supporting rural health transformation. Key investments strengthen rural provider networks, modernize technology infrastructure, increase workforce capacity, and pilot innovative payment and care delivery models. The program enables coordinated, data-driven transformation for rural Missouri healthcare.

This is the official Invitation For Bid (IFB) for competitive proposals under Missouri's ToRCH Care Smart Growth and Service Line Modification (Horizon 2), a component of the state's RHTP. The solicitation targets rural hospitals and health centers for service-line modernization, with emphasis on maternal health, behavioral health, chronic disease management, and diagnostic/outpatient services. Selected projects should address critical rural infrastructure and access gaps, support long-term sustainability, and may span partnerships and broad multi-county impact. Key contacts: Dirk Elrod dirk.elrod@dss.mo.gov; MHD.RHTP.AP@DSS.MO.GOV Event schedule: - Return Bid Deadline - 08/28/2026 - 2:00 PM CT - dirk.elrod@dss.mo.gov - Pre-proposal Teleconference - 08/11/2026 - 2:30 PM CT - Teleconference (request dial-in from buyer) - Year 1 obligation deadline - 2026-10-30 - Central Time - Year 1 spending period ends - 2027-09-30 - Central Time - Year 2 funds obligation period begins - 2026-10-31 - Central Time - Year 2 obligation deadline - 2027-10-30 - Central Time - Year 2 spending period ends - 2028-09-30 - Central Time - Renovation expenditures completion deadline for Year 1 awardees - 2027-09-30

Missouri's RHTP Digital Backbone is a five-year phased initiative, investing $56 million of a $216 million Year 1 federal award into digital health infrastructure for rural providers. The program provides shared EHR, interoperability modernization, social care referrals, advanced AI tools, remote patient monitoring, and telehealth solutions to reach 2.5 million rural Missourians. Annual readiness surveys drive adaptive investment to increase technology adoption and care coordination. Event schedule: - Digital Readiness Survey Launch (Year 1) - 2026 - Statewide via provider associations

This resource provides guidance to applicants preparing for the Missouri Rural Health Transformation Program (RHTP) opportunity. It outlines core strategic goals, program focus areas, and available documentation to support successful participation in the state’s transformation plan.

This document is part of Missouri's Rural Health Transformation Program application package and provides resources for preparing RHTP Hub Anchor applications. It supports applicants by clarifying requirements and processes for participation in the state transformation initiative targeting rural hospitals and Medicaid. No specific award or budget amounts are described in this supporting file.

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 has secured over $216 million in its first year as part of a national RHTP initiative to support rural healthcare access and quality. The program focuses on increasing care coordination, modernizing services, and fostering sustainable healthcare ecosystems through partnerships with state agencies and key healthcare organizations. Awarded based on innovation and community engagement, the plan emphasizes locally driven solutions to address health disparities and build provider capacity. Event schedule: - First year RHTP 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 RHTP Hub Program Coordinator is a full-time operational lead embedded within Missouri’s ToRCH Care model, responsible for implementing, organizing, and managing local Hub operations. The role convenes rural healthcare and community partners, oversees care coordination and referral pathways, and supports data-driven performance monitoring. The position is central to rural transformation efforts, facilitating collaboration across providers and community organizations throughout Missouri’s rural Hub service areas.

This position will lead the operational implementation of the local RHTP Hub in rural Missouri, convening providers and community organizations, managing day-to-day workflow, and supporting the delivery of coordinated whole-person care. The Coordinator facilitates integration of health, behavioral, and social services using referral and information exchange systems. This role is central to aligning and sustaining collaboration among, and effective performance within, the Hub Anchor and its partners.

This FAQ clarifies program eligibility and staffing requirements for the Missouri Rural Health Transformation Home Visiting RFP. Only nurse-based home visitors (minimum RN) trained in HomVEE-approved evidence-based models are eligible to deliver services. The FAQ outlines budget expectations, administrative cost caps (8%), and requirements for program expansion and evidence-based model training, emphasizing a rural focus.

The program, administered by MO Healthnet Division and CTF, provides $588,000 annually to agencies implementing or expanding HomVEE-approved nurse home visiting models. Up to $100,000 per agency is available for model fees and training, with $488,000 for the expansion of nurse-based home visiting. Contracts are renewable annually for up to four additional years subject to performance and funding. Key contacts: Melinda Kirsch Melinda.Kirsch@oa.mo.gov; Jennifer Sommerfeld jennifer.sommerfeld@oa.mo.gov; Amy Sielaff amy.sielaff@oa.mo.gov Event schedule: - Application Deadline - 08/23/2026

This document provides expanded Frequently Asked Questions based on May and June 2026 ToRCH Care program roadshows. It covers topics such as hub governance, Regional Coordinating Networks, staffing, cross-hub operations, funding policies, and the digital backbone. The FAQ aims to clarify participation, operational details, and strategic direction for Missouri's statewide rural health transformation efforts. Key contacts: DSS.RHTP@dss.mo.gov