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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: May 15, 2026
CONTACT: Baylee.Watts@dss.mo.gov
Missouri Department of Social Services Releases ToRCH Care Hub Boundaries Ahead of Hub Anchor Application
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. — The Missouri Department of Social Services (DSS) has released the official county groupings for the local community “Hubs” that will form the backbone of Missouri’s Rural Health Transformation Program (RHTP). RHTP is a national $50 billion fund created through the passage of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) on July 4, 2025.
A foundational element of the RHTP is to establish a statewide network of healthcare “Hubs” designed to bring care closer to home, make clinical and non-clinical services more seamless, and ensure that no rural resident is left behind. Each Hub serves as an organizing structure across approximately three to five counties, uniting a coalition of partners including local hospitals, clinics, pharmacies, EMS, community-based organizations, and more. Within a Hub, partners collaborate to understand and track local needs, coordinate care through connected referral systems, and implement programs targeted to improve community-specific needs.
The newly released Hub boundary map reflects comprehensive stakeholder feedback, incorporating over 475 comments from across Missouri’s healthcare ecosystem to ensure the groupings align with local needs.
In conjunction with the boundary release, DSS has issued a Request for Application (RFA) inviting rural healthcare organizations to apply to serve as Hub Anchors within these established regions. Hub Anchors will function as the neutral coordinator of this regional ecosystem by hosting Hub staff, supporting governance through a Leadership Board, and ensuring coordination workflows function effectively.
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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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