Missouri

Missouri is deploying RHTP funds to improve rural maternal and child health through nurse home visiting programs and to build a statewide Digital Backbone for health systems. $588,000 annually is available for nurse-led home visiting services, and a major federal RHTP award funds the broader Transformation of Rural Community Health (ToRCH) Care model. Virtual info sessions and regional roadshows are being offered to engage rural providers and community partners. Key contacts: Farrah Fite ffite@mohospitals.org; Dave Dillon ddillon@mohospitals.org Event schedule: - Virtual Informational Meeting - 07/08/2026 - 9:00 AM - 10:00 AM CT - Virtual - Application Due Date - 08/23/2026 - Digital Backbone Roadshow - Osage Beach - 07/13/2026 - 3:30 PM - 5:30 PM CT - Osage Beach, MO - Digital Backbone Roadshow - Union - 07/14/2026 - 2:00 PM - 4:00 PM CT - Union, MO

The Trump Administration announced a $45 million investment for Missouri rural health care under the Rural Health Transformation Program. This funding includes $35 million earmarked specifically for facility improvements, equipment upgrades, and renovation of care spaces to enhance rural health service delivery.

The document announces a federal award of over $45 million under the Rural Health Transformation Program for Missouri. The funding aims at upgrading hospitals and improving connectivity for rural families.

Missouri's RHTP awarded $732,660 to the Missouri Doula Association to expand the rural maternal health workforce by building training, credentialing, and healthcare integration infrastructure. The initiative focuses on improving maternity care access and addressing workforce shortages across rural communities.

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 DSS issued an RFI seeking vendor input for solutions to expand virtual care in rural areas focusing on maternal remote patient monitoring and telehealth specialist access. This effort will inform the state's strategy for scalable virtual care solutions tailored to rural healthcare realities. Key contacts: Steven Hoffman Steven.Hoffman@dss.mo.gov Event schedule: - RFI Responses Due - 09/09/2024 - Email submission to Steven.Hoffman@dss.mo.gov

Missouri awarded $35 million in RHTP Strategic Minor Renovations grants to 20 rural hospitals to improve infrastructure, patient safety, and long-term sustainability. This competitive award advances rural healthcare access across Missouri.

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.

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.

Reference: Trump Administration Awards Missouri 216 Million for Rural Health Care Link: https://heartlandernews.com/trump-administration-awards-missouri-216-million-for-rural-health-care/

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.