Governor Mike Kehoe

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*FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE*

*December 29, 2025*

*Governor Kehoe Secures More Than $216 Million to Strengthen Rural Healthcare in Missouri*

"Missouri's Rural Health Transformation award ranks in top ten amongst all 50 states"

*JEFFERSON CITY, MO *—Today, Governor Mike Kehoe and the Missouri Department of Social Services (DSS) announced the State of Missouri has been awarded more than $216 million in funding for the first year of the Rural Health Transformation (RHT) Program, a $50 billion initiative designed to strengthen healthcare access, improve outcomes, and support innovative care in rural communities. A total of $10 billion will be awarded annually to states over the next five fiscal years.

“This historic investment by the Trump Administration will strengthen Missouri's rural communities with additional resources for high-quality, accessible healthcare,” said *Governor Kehoe*. “We appreciate the work of our state agencies and healthcare stakeholders in submitting a thorough and competitive plan. Through Missouri's Rural Health Transformation plan, we are supporting local partners who understand their communities and are positioned to deliver meaningful, lasting impact for future generations of Missourians.”

Announced earlier today by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), the first year award provides more than $216 million to DSS’s MO HealthNet Division, which is leading Missouri’s efforts to increase access to care, 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. 

“By addressing longstanding health disparities affecting rural residents through these locally driven solutions, we are helping rural providers build capacity, modernize services, and better meet the needs of Missouri patients,” said *Director Jess Bax*, *Missouri DSS*. “This investment would not have been possible without the collaborative efforts across state agencies and our external partners. The funding announced today provides Missourians with an opportunity to change the landscape of healthcare access and outcomes for our rural communities.”

The Rural Health Transformation Program emphasizes collaboration among hospitals, clinics, community-based organizations, and local leaders to develop sustainable solutions tailored to the unique needs of Missouri’s rural areas.

Awarded through a competitive process on Missouri’s ability to demonstrate innovation, community engagement, and measurable impact, Missouri’s transformative plan was completed in coordination with the Governor’s Office, DSS, the Department of Health and Senior Services, the Department of Mental Health, and key healthcare stakeholders, including the Missouri Hospital Association, the Missouri Behavioral Health Council, and the Missouri Primary Care Association.

For more information on Missouri's RHT plan, please visit DSS's website [ [link removed]:*2F*2Fmydss.mo.gov*2Fmhd*2Frural-health/1/0100019a548b7631-b742b963-a163-45a2-9c79-d90dd3143039-000000/PbWVXpLn0Ygu0bD07ur_wvxBqtGjLvG_q0Fj9APGHHU=430__;JSUlJQ!!I_2Np51FQg!kTxm3SwWI7F3OF3souMeiNjla0shYm8O-whfCmhMZHyEJ161hL2HZuftspcD717c_ErHMJe5B2cfJ0VFN_mrK7UnmIX8BRb4JPevv-R1V6YmeQ%24 ] and CMS’s summary [ [link removed] ] for all 50 states.

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

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*Contact: Gabby Picard*

Communications Director

Mobile: 573-536-6566

Email: [email protected]

Website: www.governor.mo.gov


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