Missouri Awards $35 Million to Strengthen Rural Healthcare Infrastructure

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: September 22, 2026

CONTACT: Baylee.Watts@dss.mo.gov

Missouri Awards $35 Million to Strengthen Rural Healthcare Infrastructure

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. — The Missouri Department of Social Services (DSS) has awarded approximately $35 million in Strategic Minor Renovations Program funding under Missouri’s Rural Health Transformation Program (RHTP). These investments represent a significant step forward in strengthening access to essential healthcare services in rural communities and will support critical infrastructure needs that improve patient safety, operational readiness, and long-term sustainability.

The program focuses on minor facility improvements, equipment upgrades, and other essential infrastructure enhancements that help rural hospitals maintain safe, reliable care close to home. Selected projects include building system upgrades, diagnostic equipment, and facility improvements that support the delivery of core healthcare services.

Following a competitive review process, Missouri is awarding grants to 20 projects. Proposals were evaluated using standardized criteria assessing feasibility, implementation readiness, long-term sustainability, alignment with RHTP goals, and the essential nature of the services supported.

“The Trump Administration’s Rural Health Transformation Program is helping states like Missouri develop innovative, locally driven solutions to improve rural Americans’ access to high-quality care," said CMS Administrator Dr. Mehmet Oz. "These first grant awards demonstrate how this historic investment is empowering rural communities to strengthen their health systems, put patients first, and bring better care closer to home.”

A full list of awardees for the Strategic Minor Renovations Program is available on the Rural Health Transformation Program website.

Supporting Essential Rural Healthcare

Strategic Minor Renovations Program funding helps rural hospitals:

• Preserve access to essential healthcare services
• Address urgent facility safety and compliance needs
• Improve operational readiness and long-term sustainability
• Strengthen the delivery of healthcare services in rural Missouri

As projects move forward, participating organizations will work closely with DSS to implement approved improvements and further advance the long-term goals of Missouri’s RHTP.

To learn more, visit Missouri’s Rural Health Transformation Program.

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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.