A New Era for Rural Health in Missouri:
Understanding the Rural Health Transformation Program
The Rural Health Transformation Program (RHTP) is a landmark $50 billion federal investment designed to reshape healthcare in rural communities across America.
Established by Public Law 119-21, this five-year program is not a short-term grant but a significant opportunity to build a stronger, more sustainable healthcare system for the future.
In Missouri, the Department of Social Services (DSS), through its MO HealthNet Division, is leading the state's application effort in close collaboration with the Department of Health and Senior Services (DHSS) and the Department of Mental Health (DMH).
What is the intention of the program?
For years, rural communities have faced unique healthcare challenges, including hospital closures, shortages of doctors and nurses, and overall poor health outcomes compared to urban areas. The RHTP was created to address these long-standing issues head-on.
The program represents a fundamental shift in federal policy. Instead of providing temporary funds to patch financial holes, it aims to support states in making systemic, long-term changes.
The goal is to move from a healthcare system that is struggling to survive in rural areas to one that is innovative, financially stable, and built for lasting success.
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Announcements & News
07/29/2026 - Missouri Announces Upcoming Grant Opportunity to Modernize Rural Healthcare Facilities
DSS Rural Health Transformation Office (RHTO) announced the release of an Invitation for Bid (IFB) for the Smart Growth and Service Line Modification initiative under Missouri’s Transformation of Rural Community Health (ToRCH) Care Model.
This initiative is part of a multi-phase funding strategy to support the DSS mission of improving rural healthcare access and patient outcomes. While the first phase will address immediate facility safety and the preservation of core services, this second phase will focus on proactive capacity building.
Read more: Missouri Announces Upcoming Grant Opportunity to Modernize Rural Healthcare Facilities
07/02/2026 - Rural Health Transformation Funding for Home Visiting
The Missouri Children’s Trust Fund (CTF) is pleased to announce the total availability of $588,000 annually to support agencies in initiating and implementing Rural Health Transformation (RHT) home visiting. This funding comes from the Rural Health Transformation Program, administered by the Department of Social Services, MO Healthnet Division. The inclusion of home visiting in the Rural Health Transformation Program’s spending plan reflects our state’s ongoing commitment to home visiting as a strategy to improve maternal and child health.
Read more: Rural Health Transformation Funding for Home Visiting
- Past Announcements
07/24/2026
07/17/2026
07/20/2026
- Rural Health Transformation Program (RHTP) announces partnership to expand rural maternal healthcare
05/15/2026
06/05/2026
06/04/2026
05/06/2026
Key Resources
- ToRCH Care Resources
- Roadshow Resources
- Inside Missouri's RHTP Newsletter
- Press Releases
- 5/15/2026 Press Release: Missouri Department of Social Services Releases ToRCH Care Hub Boundaries Ahead of Hub Anchor Application
- 5/15/2026 Press Release: Missouri Department of Social Services Invites Rural Organizations to Apply as ToRCH Care Hub Anchors
- 12/29/2025: MHA applauds Missouri’s $216 million RHTP award
- 12/29/2025 Press Release: Governor Kehoe Secures More Than $216 Million to Strengthen Rural Healthcare in Missouri
- Governor Kehoe's RHTP Endorsement
- Applicant / Partner Resources
- Federal Application Resources
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
- ToRCH Care FAQ
View the ToRCH Care FAQ
- Roadshow FAQ
View the Roadshow FAQ
Program Status and Timeline
- 2026 Timeline
Event Date / Deadline Additional Resources Partnership to Expand Rural Maternal Healthcare Announced 07/20/2026 Hub Anchor Organizations Announced 7/17/2026 Digital Backbone Roadshows 07/13-14/2026 Inside Missouri’s Rural Health Transformation Program (RHTP) Newsletter 07/06/2026 Announce Investment in Home Visiting Services 07/02/2026 ToRCH Care Hub Onboarding & Operations Procedures Manual Published 06/30/2026 Alternative Payment Models (APM) Survey closed 6/26/2026 Digital Readiness Survey Assessment Report Released 06/24/2026 Open Applications for Medical Clerkships 06/18/2026 Hub Anchor Application Due 6/18/2026 Hannibal Virtual Roadshow 6/4/2026 Sedalia Virtual Roadshow 6/3/2026 Rolla Virtual Roadshow 6/2/2026 Ambient AI Request for Information (RFI) 6/01/2026 West Plains Virtual Roadshow 5/27/2026 Branson Virtual Roadshow 5/27/2026 RHTP ToRCH Care Roadshows May-June 2026 Hub Anchor Application Webinar
April 17, 2026 ToRCH Care Hub Anchor Application Released 5/15/2026 ToRCH Care Hub Boundaries Map Released 5/15/2026 ToRCH Care Community Institutions Webinar 5/13/2026 ToRCH Care Non-Hospital Clinical Providers Webinar 5/6/2026 Inside Missouri’s Rural Health Transformation Program (RHTP) Newsletter 05/04/2026 ToRCH Care Hospital Specific Webinar 4/29/2026 Invitation for Bid for Vital Rural Hospital Repairs 4/27/2026 ToRCH Care Overview Webinar 4/22/2026 Digital Readiness Survey 4/17/2026 RHTP Year One Budget Approved 4/7/2026 - 2025 Timeline
Event Date / Deadline Additional Resources MHA applauds Missouri’s RHTP award 12/29/2025 Governor Kehoe Secures More Than $216M 12/29/2025 Public Comment Invited on RHTP 8/26/2025 RHTP Application Materials 11/2025 Governor Kehoe's RHTP Endorsement 10/31/2025
The Rural Health Transformation Program information provided by the Missouri Department of Social Services is supported by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) as part of a financial assistance award totaling $216,276,817.66, with 100 percent funded by CMS/HHS. The contents are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent the official views of, nor an endorsement by, CMS/HHS, or the U.S. Government.
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