A Missouri pilot program reimagines rural hospitals as the central hub for more than health care


Missouri's Transformation of Rural Community Health (ToRCH) pilot program is reimagining how rural hospitals serve communities by addressing social determinants of health. The program uses Medicaid waivers and a digital platform called Unite Us to coordinate referrals between hospitals and community organizations for non-medical needs like home repairs, utility assistance, and food security. In its first 18 months, the program generated nearly 3,000 referrals. The closed-loop referral system allows hospitals to track whether patients actually receive help, something that was impossible before.

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