In May and June 2026, team members from Missouri’s Rural Health Transformation Office launched the ToRCH Care Roadshows, a series of 12 in‑person sessions designed to connect directly with rural communities. The ToRCH Care Roadshows engaged rural healthcare providers, community organizations, and partners to strengthen collaboration and support improved access to care across Missouri.
View the RHTP ToRCH Care Roadshow Handout.
MO HealthNet Division has launched a survey to gather provider input on alternative payment models (APMs). The survey seeks feedback on providers’ past experiences with APMs, perceived challenges and benefits, and their readiness to implement these models. It is intended for hospitals, FQHCs, primary care and multi‑specialty practices, and specialist groups, though any provider with APM experience may participate.
DSS has published the ToRCH Care Hub Onboarding & Operations Procedures Manual to support organizations participating in Missouri’s Rural Health Transformation Program (RHTP).
DSS has released official county groupings for the local community “Hubs” that will form the backbone of Missouri’s Rural Health Transformation Program (RHTP).
Please see the official Hub County groupings map.
DSS, through its RHTP, has announced a partnership between the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services (DHSS), Office on Women’s Health and the Missouri Doula Association (MDA) to expand the rural maternal health workforce.
Administered by DSS, on behalf of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), $732,660.43 was awarded to the MDA to strengthen rural doula training and certification infrastructure across the state. The investment is part of the RHTP and supports efforts to expand community-based maternal health services in rural Missouri.
The Missouri Department of Social Services (DSS) has selected Hub Anchor organizations to help lead implementation of Missouri’s Rural Health Transformation Program (RHTP) through its Transformation of Rural Community Health (ToRCH) Care model. The selection of Hub Anchors marks a significant milestone in advancing Missouri’s vision for a more coordinated, community-driven rural healthcare system and represents the transition from program planning to regional implementation.
DSS, through the Rural Health Transformation Program (RHTP), has announced a partnership to expand Mobile Integrated Healthcare and Community Paramedicine (MIH-CP) across the state. The initiative connects the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services (DHSS) Office of Rural Health and Primary Care with the Missouri Emergency Medical Services Association (MEMSA).
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.
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.
The Interoperability and Patient Access Rule (IPAR) is a federal requirement from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). It says MO HealthNet must offer a Patient Access Application Programming Interface (API), so patients can use third-party applications (apps) to easily access claims and health care information.
