MHA, MO PQC Attend Rural Health Advocacy Day
Missouri Hospital Association and Missouri Perinatal Quality Collaborative staff attended Rural Health Advocacy Day held Feb. 24 at the Missouri State Capitol. The event brought together advocates, health care providers and community members to meet with lawmakers and their staff to discuss priorities for rural health.
Discussion topics included implementation of Missouri’s recently approved budget for its $216 million initial Rural Health Transformation Program award, proposed bills that would impact rural health care, state budget priorities, rural hospital sustainability, health care workforce shortages and access to care in Missouri’s rural communities.
“Rural Health Advocacy Day brought Missouri’s most pressing rural challenges into sharp focus, and MHA is leading the push for real solutions by elevating key issues and amplifying the unified voice of rural hospitals,” said Stephen Njenga, MHA’s director of quality measurement and population health improvement. “These hospitals anchor their communities, and MHA is ensuring they have the support needed to keep vital care local.”
Also in attendance, MO PQC highlighted its ongoing work to support rural obstetrics and postpartum efforts in Missouri. With more than half of Missouri counties classified as maternal care deserts, MO PQC is bridging gaps by hosting rural convenings statewide and creating a pool of OB emergency trainers. In 2025, the MO PQC provided $16,000 in rural stipends to support rural maternal health care. Rural teams are leveraging their emergency departments, EMS, community-based organizations and connections to higher levels of care, ensuring they are prepared to stabilize and save the lives of mothers and babies.
Rural hospitals face unique challenges — from workforce shortages to financial and infrastructure barriers — and MHA supports the state’s rural hospitals through advocacy, resources and ongoing evaluation to strengthen the health of rural communities.
MHA also is the convener of the Rural Hospital Council, which guides MHA’s policy, advocacy and services for rural and critical access 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.