Riisa Rawlins, interim chief executive officer of the St. Louis Regional Health Commission, quoted the remarkable Maya Angelou in her keynote address at the 2024 Women Trailblazer Awards at the University of Missouri–St. Louis last week. “I’m a woman. Phenomenally. Phenomenal woman, That’s me.” Maya Angelou, Phenomenal Woman Since its inception in 1995, the Women Trailblazer Awards recognize UMSL women…
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State legislators are currently deliberating on a number of proposed laws aimed at limiting the ability of public and private organizations to conduct training or implement initiatives focused on diversity, equity, and inclusion. Some of these bills target only state departments, while others extend to public and private medical institutions within higher education. If passed,…
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On January 31, the RHC submitted public comment in support of proposed rule 13 CSR 70-25.160 Doula Services, which would establish the Department of Social Services’ MO HealthNet Division guidelines regarding coverage and reimbursement for community doula services. Maternal and infant mortality rates in Missouri are consistently one of the highest in the nation, and people…
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On December 5th, KFF posted a press release about their recently published 2023 Racism, Discrimination and Health Survey. The survey, a large, nationally representative sample of over 6,000 responses illustrates the experiences of racism and discrimination across racial and ethnic groups. The survey explores experiences related to economic circumstances, interactions with police, discrimination in daily…
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On January 17th, the Regional Health Commission (RHC) submitted testimony in support of Senate Bill 748 (SB 748) which would remove the expiration date for the federal reimbursement allowance (FRA). The federal reimbursement allowance (FRA) system also known as the “provider tax” started in the 1990s, when hospitals began voluntarily contributing funds to the state,…
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On January 16th, the Regional Health Commission (RHC) submitted testimony in support of House Bill 2190 which would expand access to contraception by prioritizing and passing annual-supply birth control legislation. HB 2190 would require any health benefit plan in Missouri to reimburse a health care provider or dispensing entity for the dispensing of a supply…
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On December 16th, Riisa Rawlins, interim CEO of the Regional Health Commission (RHC), delivered the University of Missouri–St. Louis (UMSL) Fall 2023 commencement address for the graduates of the College of Business Administration and the College of Nursing. In her address, Riisa highlighted her own personal and professional journey navigating complex health, social, and political systems,…
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Background On Thursday, December 14th, the RHC / Alive & Well Communities hosted a trauma-informed conversation seeking to address the holiday hardships that many of our neighbors and friends across the state face during this season. Following this important conversation on community wellness and mobility, we kindly requested that guests consider contributing to our donation…
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On November 16th, the RHC was recognized as a “Distinguished Health Equity Partner” at the CareSTL Health 54th Anniversary Gala. Riisa Rawlins, Interim CEO of the RHC accepted the award and was featured in a video celebration of the awardees. You can watch the video uploaded on our Youtube, or clicking the button below! We…
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In a recent news article published by Washington University School of Medicine, the St. Louis Regional Health Commission (RHC) was highlighted as a partner supporting work increasing and improving long-COVID care in St. Louis and in Missouri rural communities. The RHC is joined by partners Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, the Integrated…
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Background On March 16, 2023 the St. Louis Regional Health Commission (RHC) and Alive and Well Communities (AWC) announced an affiliation to advance health equity across the State of Missouri and beyond. AWC became a subsidiary of RHC, effective February 24, 2023. We know that all communities experience harm from trauma, and those exposed to the trauma…
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