Local News – Thursday, April 4th, 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.