Archive for 2024

The Missouri Department of Social Services MO HealthNet Division, which administers Missouri’s Medicaid program, announced the approval of a waiver amendment from the Centers of Medicare and Medicaid Services that which allows for the full deployment of the Transformation of Rural Community Health (ToRCH) pilot project. ToRCH, which MHD began designing and developing in late 2021, will address critical social care challenges that compromise individuals’ ability to maintain their health and effectively manage chronic conditions. The project has been called “a groundbreaking initiative that empowers and encourages rural communities to collaborate to address healthcare-related social needs among their Medicaid population, with a focus on driving better health outcomes.” Healthcare providers across the country recognize the impact of Social Determinants of Health on patient outcomes and are seeking ways to address these needs. According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, these needs encompass the environmental conditions where individuals are born, grow, learn, work, play, worship, and age that can impact various health outcomes, functioning, and overall quality of life. Some examples of these needs include safe housing, access to nutritious foods, transportation, and physical activity opportunities. The ToRCH model is based on strong collaborations among three essential entities in rural communities: the hospital, primary care and behavioral health clinics, and community-based organizations offering social services. These partners will utilize the Community Information Exchange software from “Unite Us,” a secure digital platform. This software will enhance care coordination by sharing resources, sending referrals, and ensuring the completion of referrals, thereby reducing barriers between individuals and the services meant to assist them. In June 2023, six rural hospitals were selected to participate in the first cohort of the pilot that included the Salem Memorial District Hospital in Dent County and Phelps Health in Phelps County. ToRCH funding enables hospitals to act as community hubs, collaborating with partners to address the social determinants and reduce preventable hospital admissions and emergency department visits. The ToRCH model is a Primary Care Case Management model focusing on addressing determinants of health at the community level. It works using a local leadership board at the hospital “hub” who will oversee the ToRCH model, prioritizing the health-related social needs through community knowledge and clinical expertise. Communication among partners for services like transportation and food will be facilitated through the “Unite Us” CIE platform. ToRCH funding will cover staff and project support, including convening the Leadership Board, monitoring data, engaging with community organizations, and seeking additional funding sources. The model aims to improve health management for rural Medicaid participants, achieve cost savings, and sustain operations through shared savings.

The Missouri Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) is announcing a funding opportunity for technical assistance agreements that support the efforts of natural resource conservation partners in Missouri. The proposal deadline is April 8, 2024. The purpose of these agreements is to provide technical assistance in the delivery, development, promotion and support of soil, water and wildlife conservation programs to Missouri’s farmers, ranchers and landowners. Key technical assistance emphasis areas include forest managements planning and practice implementation, nutrient management plan development, practice implementation to increase wildlife habitat practices, engineering for design, layout and check out of conservation practices; area wide planning for watershed assessment and creating a Missouri Soils Library database for chemical and physical soil properties. Applicants must demonstrate the ability to educate farmers, ranchers and landowners, including Historically Underserved producers and groups in successful application of Farm Bill programs. They must be able to deliver conservation, planning, management practices as well as implement climate-smart conservation practices related to climate change mitigation, adaptation and resilience. Interested parties can apply via grants.com by Monday, April 8th. For more information about NRCS grants and agreements, contact Jenny Long at (573) 876-0901 or Jennifer.Long@usda.gov.

A municipal election was held Tuesday in Dent County and a total of 2,209 voters cast ballots for 23.74% of the 9,304 registered voters. These are the unofficial results of challenged races for Dent County that includes the votes from other counties for the hospital boards and Oak Hill R-1. They are as follows:

• indicates winners

CITY OF SALEM WEST WARD ALDERMAN:

Catherine Dent* 209 votes
Richard Labrash 196 votes

CITY OF SALEM EAST WARD ALDERMAN:

Kala Sisco* 252 votes
James Vance 115 votes

CITY OF SALEM MAYOR

Greg Parker* 441 votes
Lisa Elliott 73 votes
Grover “Mike” Whitley 97 votes
Eddie Fleetwood 182 votes

DENT COUNTY USE TAX QUESTION

Yes 623 votes
No* 1,532 votes

DENT COUNTY MARIJUANA SALES TAX QUESTION

Yes* 1,312 votes
No 882 votes

SMH HOSPITAL BOARD DISTRICT 5
BOARD OF DIRECTOR – SIX-YEAR TERM

Ray Bruno 424 votes
N. Dwayne Land 496 votes
Frank A. Barnitz* 900 votes
Colleen Lake 228 votes

SMH HOSPITAL BOARD DISTRICT 4
BOARD OF DIRECTOR – FIVE-YEAR TERM

Zachary Moser* 1,085 votes
C. David Kerr 948 votes

SMH HOSPITAL BOARD DISTRICT 6
BOARD OF DIRECTOR – ONE-YEAR TERM

Leigh Ann Price* 1,256 votes
Susan Jordan 707 votes

SALEM R-80 SCHOOL BOARD: (two elected)

Steve Patterson* 620 votes
Jason Green* 499 votes
Lauren Prugh 468 votes

SALEM R-80 SCHOOL DISTRICT PROP E
INCREASE TAX LEVY

Yes 369 votes
No* 834 votes

SALEM R-80 SCHOOL DISTRICT PROP W
BOND ISSUE

Yes 412 votes
No* 828 votes

OAK HILL R-1 SCHOOL BOARD: (two elected)
THREE-YEAR TERM

Nathan Ragsdale* 116 votes
Rhonda Wolfe-Hutsell* 94 votes
Mikel Chambers 86 votes

OAK HILL R-1 SCHOOL BOARD:
ONE-YEAR TERM

April Greener* 176 votes

Dr. Lynne Reed, Superintendent of the Salem R-80 School District, was among eight Missouri superintendents nominated this year for the prestigious Robert L. Pearce Award which is presented annually by the Missouri Association of School Administrators. Reed was nominated for the honor by colleagues in the South Central MASA Region. She was honored as a nominee during the Annual Awards Banquet at the MASA Spring Conference March 20th in Lake Ozark.

The Smokey Bear hot air balloon is coming to the Ozarks in honor of the eclipse! This weekend, head to Big Spring, part of Ozark National Scenic Riverways, to check it out. Hot air balloon rides will be offered, weather dependent, starting this Saturday morning around 7:30 and lasting through Monday the 8th. Some rules and regulations do apply. The Smokey Bear hot air balloon measures in at a massive 97 feet tall with the basket, and is 72 feet wide at the brim of the hat! The Smokey Bear hot air balloon is brought to you by Mark Twain National Forest and Ozark National Scenic Riverways.”