Governor Kehoe Announces Submission of Missouri's Rural Health Transformation Pl…

NOVEMBER 5, 2025

Jefferson City- Today, Governor Mike Kehoe and the Missouri Department of Social Services (DSS) announced the State of Missouri has submitted its Rural Health Transformation (RHT) plan to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS).

Missouri's bold, transformative plan for rural healthcare, completed in coordination with the Governor's Office, state agencies, and key healthcare stakeholders, is designed to increase access, improve quality, enhance care coordination, and incentivize long-term sustainability to create a healthcare ecosystem that will support Missouri's rural communities for generations to come.

"We appreciate the Trump Administration's focus on strengthening rural communities and creating this historic funding opportunity through the One Big Beautiful Bill," said Governor Kehoe. "Missouri's Rural Health Transformation plan is a collaborative effort that will be embedded into every facet of our healthcare system, creating a lasting impact for future generations of rural Missourians."

Key elements of Missouri's RHT plan include:

• Improving healthcare access for rural Missourians by connecting providers, pharmacies, public health agencies, at-home resources, and digital health tools through a unified, regional network.
• Expanding access to primary care, behavioral health, and maternity services in rural communities while strengthening specialty and complex care through telehealth and patient-focused technology.
• Enhancing rural provider sustainability by increasing collaboration among local partners to advance technology, operations, and care delivery, and incentivizing better health outcomes through shared savings of avoidable healthcare costs.

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).

"Our department was proud to collaborate across state agencies and with key stakeholders to craft this bold plan," said Director Jess Bax, Missouri DSS. "We look forward to continuing our work to support Missourians with this historic funding opportunity that will change the landscape of healthcare access and outcomes for rural Missourians."

CMS will review each state's proposal and notify awardees by December 31, 2025. The funding will be distributed in the form of a cooperative agreement over the next five years.

Governor Kehoe's letter to CMS Administrator Dr. Oz in support of Missouri's plan can be read at this link. For more information on Missouri's RHT plan, please visit DSS's website.

For more information on CMS' Rural Health Transformation Program, visit this link.

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