More Missourians received food stamps and Medicaid this June compared to prior months: tens of thousands – perhaps even 100,000 more for food stamps and Medicaid – should have joined the rolls.
The June 2020 Monthly Management Report from the Department of Social Services for the Family Support Division and MO HealthNet Division is now available on the DSS website. [ https://dss.mo.gov/re/pdf/fsd_mhdmr/0620-family-support-mohealthnet-report.pdf ] The report shows a very small increase in the number of Missourians getting Temporary Assistance, a big jump in food stamp recipients since February and an increase in the number getting Medicaid.
Based on past calamities (most notable the 2008/2009 Great Recession), I expected the increases to be much, much more pronounced.
February 2020 June 2020 More Realistic
Temporary Assistance
Total Persons 21,286 24,050 +2,764 + 15,000
Food Stamps
Total Recipients 657,317 773,079 +115,762 +250,000
MO HealthNet
Enrolled 848,048 939,919 + 91,871 +200,000
Remember, before COVID found Missouri a great deal of effort was being expended to find out why – per DSS – parents decided they didn’t need free health coverage for 100,000 kids! Solving that riddle alone would bump the Medicaid total.
Under special pandemic rules for food stamps (including enhanced benefits), a tremendous number of formerly working and middle class folks ought to have applied for SNAP. And, while Temporary Assistance remains a measly maximum of $292 a month for a mom with two kids, I would have expected a lot more women not covered by unemployment but still out of work to apply to that program.
Now, in coming weeks DSS will shed 200 middle managers…His accidency’s version of leadership in light of the current distressed economy and the pending expansion of Medicaid. Plus, the rules for case reviews come back with a vengeance. And, Trump and Congress are talking about deep cuts to food stamp benefits.
Oh, with the pandemic bonus unemployment payments getting cut (or severely trimmed) and many hitting their Missouri limit of weeks of unemployment it is very possible that all these benefit programs will have steep increases in August.
Alas, this being Missouri being eligible for a benefit in no way assures that one will get help. Too few staff, antiquated computer systems, long waits on Call Center lines and such are our reality.
In other words, you don’t have to be Chicken Little to want a bucket on your head.
Missouri Benefit Programs
June 2020 February 2020 June 2011
Temporary Assistance
Children 17,915 16,363 71,488
Parents 6,135 4,923 36,895
Total 24,050 21,286 108,383
Payments 2,392,448 $2,056,352 $9,983,671
Per Family $ 239.56 $ 225.85 $ 237.01
Per Day $ 7.98 $ 7.79 $ 7.90
MO HealthNet (Medicaid)
Enrolled 939,919 848,048 897,306
Covered 928,501 867,746 947,876
Payments $745,113,867 $761,096,766 $526,576,621
Per Patient $ 802.49 $ 877.10 $ 555.53
Managed Care 642,087 591,728 446,703
Premium $ 278.36 $ 276.55 $ 178.50
Food Stamps
Participants 773,079 657,317 949,136
Benefits $133,878,111 $79,932,343 $121,255,798
Per Person $ 173.17 $ 121.60 $ 127.75
Per Meal $ 1.92 $ 1.40 $ 1.42
Food Stamp County Totals June 2020
St. Louis County 117,144 [119,873 in 6/11]
Jackson Co. 107,807
St. Louis City 76,822 [110,573 in 6/11]
Greene Co. 37,977
Jefferson Co. 20,948
Jasper Co. 18,662
Clay Co. 18,141
St. Charles Co. 17,883
Boone Co. 17,011
Buchanan Co. 13,921
https://dss.mo.gov/re/pdf/fsd_mhdmr/0220-family-support-mohealthnet-report.pdf
https://dss.mo.gov/re/pdf/fsd_mhdmr/01106.pdf
Quick notes…
It is unusual for Medicaid to not pay for more people than the current number of people enrolled: like all medical plans, bills sometimes come in months after the service has been rendered. That makes the June 2020 ‘covered’ total lower than the ‘enrolled’ number seem strange.
In 2015 the legislature essentially amputated much of Temporary Assistance with time limits. This allows DSS to use their federal Temporary Assistance block grant for other critical items – such as funding anti-abortion “clinics.”
The June 2020 food stamp numbers reflect the pandemic bonus allocations. Ironically, in June 2011 food stamps had enhanced benefits too as part of the response to that recession.
Important!
Once again Trump and his GOP co-conspirators have started efforts to slash food stamps. Action to make the cuts may come up very, very soon in the U.S. Senate.
If this week you can contact either or both of Missouri’s two Senators – Roy Blunt at 202/224-5721 or 314/725-4484 and Josh Hawley at 202/224-6154 – and explain that you want food stamps left alone it would help the cause.
Thanks.
Glenn Koenen