Joe Miller To Lead New DSS Rural Health Transformation Office
The Missouri Department of Social Services announced Tuesday that Joseph (Joe) Miller will serve as director of the newly created Rural Health Transformation Office within MO HealthNet, effective Monday, March 30.
The RHTO will guide the implementation of ToRCH Care — Missouri’s five-year, federally funded Rural Health Transformation Program, designed to strengthen and modernize health care delivery in rural communities.
“I’m really excited to be in a position that lets me work directly with hospitals across Missouri and learn from you. It will be a priority for me to spend time in communities across the state, meeting with hospitals to hear directly about what’s working, what’s not and what’s needed locally,” Miller said. “Every rural community is different, and a one-size-fits-all approach won’t work, especially in areas already stretched thin. Local hospitals play a critical role in the health of their communities, and I look forward to working together to ensure individuals and families have access to the care they need.”
The new office will serve as the central hub for strategy, governance and technical support for rural hospitals, clinics and behavioral health providers participating in Missouri’s RHTP initiatives.
Miller’s leadership will focus on developing innovative payment models, improving alignment across state agencies, coordinating work with provider and education partners, and ensuring accountability across all RHTP initiatives.
His previous experience includes helping lead a community-based health care (including behavioral health) organization with locations in four states and directing data-driven strategies to improve quality outcomes and increase efficiencies in health care IT for a clinically integrated network of independent Federally Qualified Health Centers.
About the Rural Health Transformation Program
The Rural Health Transformation Program, created under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA), is a landmark federal initiative to strengthen rural Americans' health care access and outcomes through sustainability and innovation. Beginning in 2026, the program provides $50 billion over five years, divided equally between state-distributed funds and competitive grants to states awarded by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). Missouri's state-led initiative, known as Transformation of Rural Community Health (ToRCH Care) and coordinated by the MO HealthNet Division within the Missouri Department of Social Services, received a $216 million award from CMS for the first year of the program. ToRCH Care is expected to build local partnerships, expand care coordination and build capacity through a “community hub” model. Rural hospitals, clinics and provider networks are expected to be the primary recipients of these funds. These investments are especially critical as hospitals face future reductions in Medicaid state-directed payments and provider tax matching rates, which disproportionately impact rural hospitals.
The Missouri Hospital Association is a nonprofit association in Jefferson City that represents 136 Missouri hospitals. In addition to representation and advocacy on behalf of its membership, the association offers continuing education programs on current health care topics and seeks to educate the public about health care issues.