NEW YORK – January 14, 2026 –  Unite Us, the nation’s trusted technology partner for integrating health and community-based care, released results from a new evaluation of Missouri’s Transformation of Rural Community Health (ToRCH) program. Supported by Missouri Medicaid and powered by Unite Us infrastructure, the ToRCH program demonstrates how hospital-led, community-based care coordination can improve health outcomes, reduce costs, and mitigate administrative burden to help residents thrive across rural communities.

Through ToRCH, rural hospitals serve as regional hubs that connect patients to critical community services addressing non-medical drivers of health, including food access, transportation, housing, and more. Across six participating counties, the program has already generated measurable results: 

• 99% invoice acceptance rate
• 18% increase in timely behavioral health follow-up after emergency department visits
• 19.6% increase in individuals with controlled blood pressure
• 17 minutes saved per referral

“Rural health funding gives communities the chance to stop thinking in short-term fixes and start building for the future,” said Taylor Justice, CEO and Co-Founder of Unite Us. “ToRCH shows what’s possible when underfunded communities pair ingenuity with the right infrastructure. Missouri is proving that rural communities can cut costs and reduce inefficiencies, while building sustainable capacity that delivers value across the entire system.”

A Blueprint for Scalable Rural Health Innovation

With rural health funding recently awarded via the Rural Health Transformation Program (RHTP), the ToRCH program offers a replicable blueprint for states committed to optimizing their rural health funding. 

The program, referenced by CMS as an example in the RHTP applications, demonstrates how rural communities can use data and technology to align incentives, leverage existing funding streams, and empower hospitals to integrate community care models in a sustainable way.

An Innovative Model for Rural Care Coordination

Since July 2024, six ToRCH hub hospitals have coordinated care for nearly 2,800 individuals through the Unite Us platform, connecting them to more than 900 community services. Sixty-six percent of referral activity was initiated directly by hub hospitals, reinforcing their role as anchors for cross-sector collaboration in rural settings.

“To hear the stories of the participants’ lives who have been impacted in a positive way—improving their health while also improving the financial health of the Missouri Medicaid program—that’s been very gratifying for my team,” said Kirk Mathews, Chief Transformation Officer at MO HealthNet.

Technology Driving Efficiency, Accountability, and Compliance

Beyond improving patient care, the ToRCH program demonstrates how centralized technology can reduce administrative complexity for providers and states alike. Survey results further underscore the model’s impact: 88% of respondents agreed that ToRCH improves overall patient care, and a majority reported reduced stress related to documentation and follow-up.

The full case study, Lighting the ToRCH: Powering Rural Health Transformation through a Hospital-Led Hub Approach, is available today. Read it here.

The post Missouri’s ToRCH Program Shows Measurable ROI for Rural Health in Partnership with Unite Us appeared first on uniteus.com.

The post Lighting the ToRCH: Powering Rural Health Transformation through a Hospital-Led Hub Approach appeared first on uniteus.com.

NEW YORK – September 22, 2025 – CommunityCares is a collaborative effort between the Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System (AHCCCS), the state’s Medicaid agency; Contexture, the state’s largest health information exchange; and Unite Us, the nation’s trusted technology partner for integrating health and community-based care, has set a new standard for proactively addressing the non-medical needs that influence whole-person health. In just three years, the network has seen a remarkable 428% growth, demonstrating its effectiveness in connecting residents with vital community-based services across the state.

The success of the CommunityCares network is highlighted in a new short-form documentary that captures the program’s impact from the perspectives of some of its key partners. You can hear directly from community partners, AHCCCS, Contexture, and Unite Us on how this collaborative model has set a new standard for integrated care and is delivering measurable results for Arizonans.

Watch the full video on the Unite Us website to see how the CommunityCares network is transforming health outcomes and serving as a blueprint for other states.

Since its inception, the CommunityCares network has served more than 71K Arizonans and facilitated more than 185K referrals for vital health and non-medical services. This robust initiative, powered by Unite Us’ technology infrastructure, and Contexture’s expertise in secure information exchange, is transforming how residents access essential support, from housing and food security to employment and medical services.

Historically, Arizonans navigated a fragmented system when seeking assistance for basic needs. The CommunityCares network has transformed this by facilitating secure, closed-loop referrals through CommunityCares, built on Unite Us’ infrastructure. This system allows healthcare providers, government agencies, and community-based organizations to seamlessly assess an individual’s needs and connect them to available resources, delivering comprehensive, coordinated support. The network’s impressive growth includes onboarding over 1,400 organizations, creating a robust and interconnected care ecosystem throughout Arizona.

“Addressing social drivers of health is paramount to improving the long-term health outcomes of our members,” said Marcus Johnson, vice president of government affairs at AHCCCS. “The CommunityCares network has been instrumental in connecting our most vulnerable populations to the non-medical support they need—from housing to nutrition—to not just get by, but to truly thrive.”

Beyond streamlining referrals, CommunityCares gives care providers visibility into their clients’ care journeys, from the initial request to resolution. This outcome-driven approach not only improves individual well-being but also proves the financial sustainability and tangible return on investment of integrating non-medical services into the broader healthcare system.

The remarkable achievements of the CommunityCares network are a direct result of the strong partnerships at its core.

“The CommunityCares program’s success is a direct result of our powerful partnership with AHCCCS, Contexture, Unite Us, and community partners across the state,” said Brandon White, director of community and customer success at Unite Us. “Our technology turns this collaboration into tangible results, closing the loop on referrals and providing the data needed to prove the program’s impact, all while fundamentally improving health outcomes for Arizonans.”

“The success of the CommunityCares program is a testament to the dedication of every community-based organization and provider on the front lines,” said Melissa Kotrys, CEO of Contexture. “We’ve had the privilege of watching these partnerships flourish. We’ve proven that when you empower organizations with a seamless flow of information, they can deliver transformative, whole-person care. We are incredibly proud of what we’ve built and remain committed to fostering this ecosystem so we can continue to serve the people of Arizona for years to come.”

For more information about the CommunityCares network and its impact on community-based organizations, including how non-profit CBOs can join CommunityCares network free of charge, please visit contexture.org/communitycares/ or uniteus.com/networks/arizona/.

The post Arizona’s CommunityCares Network Sees 428% Growth, Streamlining Access to Vital Services for Arizonans appeared first on uniteus.com.

Learn more about how to:

• Build cross-sector partnerships between hospitals, providers, and CBOs that break down silos and strengthen local leadership.
• Leverage technology and data for real-time coordination, measurable outcomes, and smarter strategies.
• Design for sustainability through models like ToRCH’s shared savings approach that reinvest in rural systems.

Key Takeaways:

• Practical lessons from Missouri’s ToRCH model that demonstrate the power of community-led innovation.
• Insights into how technology can strengthen trust, streamline coordination, and create lasting impact.
• Strategies for building sustainable, resilient rural health systems that keep communities at the center.

The post Rural Health: A Guide for Digital Health Transformation appeared first on uniteus.com.

The post From Vision to Value: The Infrastructure Behind Medicaid Transformation appeared first on uniteus.com.

The Connecticut Dental Health Partnership (CTDHP), serving more than one million Medicaid members, has significantly improved dental access through the implementation of the Unite Us closed-loop referral system. By leveraging real-time data and a high-touch service model, CTDHP increased dental service utilization among at-risk and underserved populations. This approach highlights the effectiveness of combining technology with personalized care to address barriers and improve oral health access for Medicaid beneficiaries.

The post Pathways to Oral Health: How Technology Improves Dental Access and Member Engagement in Connecticut appeared first on uniteus.com.