Current Work

The RHC recognizes the impact of toxic stress and trauma on the health and well-being of our communities. While trauma does not discriminate and impacts all communities, our work centers the impact of the trauma of discrimination, which science increasingly shows has devastating health impacts. With all of this knowledge, we seek to build the will to change and to activate communities to heal.

The RHC prioritizes expanding coverage for the uninsured and underinsured. As of October 1, 2021, Missouri Medicaid offers coverage for eligible low-income adults. The RHC and our partners are closely tracking developments around Medicaid expansion, reporting on current legislation’s potential impacts on health care access, and helping lead advocacy efforts to improve utilization of these benefits.

Advocacy – a tool for achieving policy and systemic change – is a key strategic priority of the RHC. Our advocacy efforts, which remain non-partisan, evidence-based, collaborative, and patient/person-centered, bolster our mission to improve access to health care, improve health outcomes, and eliminate health disparities.

Chronic pain is a public health crisis in the St. Louis region. In 2018, the RHC launched a chronic pain initiative to accomplish two main goals: decrease the progression of acute pain to chronic pain, and improve the treatment of chronic pain in our region.

As the COVID-19 (novel coronavirus) pandemic unfolds, the St. Louis Regional Health Commission (RHC) is taking steps to protect the health and well-being of our staff, stakeholders, and community.

Gateway to Better Health is a temporary health care program for uninsured adults in St. Louis City and County. The program is designed to provide uninsured adults a bridge in care until they are able to enroll in health insurance coverage options available through the Affordable Care Act.

Update: In August 2020, Missouri voters approved Medicaid expansion! Beginning October 1, 2021, Gateway to Better Health members will be reviewed for Medicaid coverage.

The Regional Health Commission produces an annual “Access to Care” data book, which reviews community-wide progress toward strengthening the health care safety net system in the region.