|
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: July 24, 2026
CONTACT: Baylee.Watts@dss.mo.gov
Bringing Healthcare Home: State Initiative Aims to Significantly Expand Mobile Medical Services in Rural Missouri
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. — The Missouri Department of Social Services (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).
Administered by DSS on behalf of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), this partnership represents an investment of around $6.5M through July 31, 2027, to bring innovative and holistic care to patients in rural and underserved communities.
What is MIH-CP? Mobile Integrated Healthcare and Community Paramedicine (MIH-CP) represent the next evolution of rural healthcare. It extends the capabilities of emergency medical services (EMS) beyond traditional emergency response. Paramedics are integrated directly into the broader medical system, working with primary care providers, behavioral health specialists, hospitals, and local organizations to deliver both emergency and preventive care.
This fully coordinated approach addresses barriers to overall well-being and significantly reduces avoidable emergency department visits. For many rural Missouri families, distance and limited access to healthcare can cause manageable conditions to escalate into life-threatening emergencies. Today, over 30% of rural Missouri communities have access to MIH-CP services. This partnership will significantly expand that reach, helping to bridge critical gaps in care and bring timely, life-saving medical services closer to home.
Justin Duncan, MEMSA President, said: “The future of healthcare depends on integration, collaboration, and innovation. Through this investment, Missouri is building a statewide system that connects EMS with local providers. Together, we are creating mobile healthcare systems that deliver the right care, in the right place, at the right time.”
Funding Available for Rural EMS Agencies
MEMSA aims to establish new MIH-CP sites and expand existing ones, with a goal of supporting 14 operational sites across rural Missouri. This funding will provide agencies with the financial support they need to launch brand-new MIH programs, expand their current services, and implement the critical charting systems required to keep all local healthcare partners connected. Individual programs can be approved for up to $250,000 for startup costs, while larger regional systems can be awarded a maximum of $500,000.
MEMSA will administer the initiative by recruiting participating local EMS organizations, overseeing the site expansions, providing technical assistance, and reporting program outcomes to the state.
To learn more or apply for funding:
###
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.
|
