Missouri HealthNet Adopts Unite Us Payments, Expanding Impact of ToRCH Program to Improve Rural Health Outcomes

Rural hospitals are using Unite Us’ Payments solution to seamlessly facilitate reimbursements for community organizations, expanding their capacity and improving outcomes for Medicaid beneficiaries.

NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Unite Us, the nation’s trusted technology partner for social care transformation, announces that Missouri HealthNet Division’s Transformation of Rural Community Health (ToRCH) program has adopted its innovative social care revenue cycle management solution. Using the Payments functionality, the ToRCH program will streamline its reimbursement processes for community organizations, enabling them to reinvest resources directly into program enhancement, leading to increased service capacity, expanded service offerings, and improved community health outcomes for rural populations.

The payments solution is fully embedded within Unite Us’ closed-loop referral platform to streamline ToRCH’s referral and reimbursement workflow. Users can send authorized referrals for reimbursable social care services directly to CBOs, tracking all service delivery and reimbursement activities without leaving the Unite Us Platform—automatically generating invoices, which are submitted to referring hospitals for timely reimbursement, increasing sustainability for service providers.

“The ToRCH program exemplifies the importance of integrating social and clinical care to address the root causes of poor health,” said Kirk Mathews, chief transformation officer at MO HealthNet. “By leveraging Unite Us’ referral and payments solutions, we empower rural providers and CBOs to deliver comprehensive care, secure sustainable funding, and enhance outcomes for Medicaid beneficiaries.”

All six rural hospitals within the ToRCH program—Bothwell Regional Health Center, Citizens Memorial Hospital, Golden Valley Memorial Healthcare, Phelps Health, Ray County Hospital and Healthcare, and Salem Memorial Hospital—have adopted the Payments solution to seamlessly allocate Medicaid funding to essential services delivered to the community, enabling a more strategic approach to rural healthcare.

By simplifying the reimbursement workflow, CBOs can expand capacity and address unique rural social needs, such as transportation, nutrition, and housing, to drive healthier outcomes for Medicaid beneficiaries. Adopting Unite Us’ Platform, the six-hospital hubs manage patient eligibility, authorize services, and track outcomes, while Unite Us ensures timely compensation for critical social care services.

The program’s emphasis on SDOH support as a primary strategy for generating shared savings has a positive impact on community organizations in various ways:

• Localized Resource Allocation: The reimbursement model enables CBOs to directly address community challenges, such as transportation, nutrition, and housing needs, through reliable payments.
• Improved CBO Sustainability: This approach empowers CBOs with financial support, allowing them to expand capacity, invest in infrastructure, and overcome staffing challenges.
• Closing the Referral Loop: The Unite Us platform enables hospitals to manage referrals and track outcomes, ensuring a seamless connection between healthcare providers and social care partners.

Since June 2023, Unite Us and MO HealthNet have built the infrastructure to support ToRCH’s success. By screening for health-related social needs (HRSNs) and connecting Medicaid recipients to managed care organizations (MCOs) and funded CBOs, the program takes a holistic approach to addressing social drivers of health (SDoH), improving population health, and delivering measurable cost savings.

“Unite Us’ Payments solution simplifies and scales the reimbursement process, allowing programs like ToRCH to make a meaningful impact in rural communities,” said Raffale Breaks, chief product and technology officer at Unite Us. “This solution ensures CBOs receive financial support, enabling them to address critical needs while strengthening the infrastructure of social care networks for lasting benefits in underserved communities.”

About Unite Us

Unite Us is the nation’s premier technology provider for transforming social care. Our advanced product suite is used to streamline processes, send and track referrals, and facilitate Medicaid eligibility and reimbursements across government, healthcare, health plans, and community organizations. The first of its kind, our closed-loop referral system prioritizes privacy and dignity and has integrated data and analytics tools used to measure impact, optimize programs, and shape policy. With over 1.5M services, we host the nation’s largest network of nonprofits dedicated to improving whole-person health. Learn more at UniteUs.com and LinkedIn.

About Missouri HealthNet

Missouri HealthNet is a division of the Missouri Department of Social Services that offers Medicaid healthcare coverage for eligible Missourians. MO HealthNet’s vision is that together, we will build a best-in-class Medicaid program that addresses the needs of Missouri’s most vulnerable in a financially sustainable way.