Medicaid Expansion Off To S L O W, S L O W Start
The first report of the new federal fiscal year unveiled a drastically different – and shorter – benefit report. Instead of 165 pages it’s down to 77. (We do get a nifty color chart for MO HealthNet/Medicaid.)
The numbers in the Missouri Department of Social Services Family Support Division and MO HealthNet Division Monthly Management Report for October 2021 are, well, very disappointing.
First, the $64,000 answer. In October, the first month the state accepted applications under Medicaid Expansion 14,005 adults joined the rolls. Think 5% of the 275,000+ eligible. Not a great start.
Second, remember my report of Missouri not using the last month of Covid-bonus food stamp money? Well, take a look…
Missouri Food Stamp Benefits Issued
August 2021 September 2021 October 2021
$159,348,685 $105,183,102 $112,548,190
Okay, the federal formula actually boosted benefits by about 6% from August to October, so, Missouri ought to have issued around $190,000,000 in benefits in October, meaning Missouri families – and grocers – lost out on $78,000,000 in food money. I can’t get an answer as to why Missouri goes out of its way to deprive struggling families of federal paid benefits.
Ironically, Missouri helped a smidge more people with Temporary Assistance in October compared to September. That’s to be expected as those Adult Eligibility Group (Medicaid Expansion) people completing applications probably turned-up a few more for other benefit programs.
Still, Missouri remains a stingy and nasty state for poor people.
Missouri Benefits
October 2021 September 2021
Temporary Assistance
Children 11,794 11,605
Adults 3,343 3,219
TOTAL 15,137 14,824
SNAP (Food Stamps)
Participants 675,781 683,546
Benefits $112,548,190 $105,183,102
Per Person $ 166.55 $ 153.88
Per Meal $ 1.79 $ 1.65
MO HealthNet (Medicaid)
Enrolled 1,132,481 1,112,773
Covered 1,129,995 1,111,823
Cost $970,234,135 $825,314,197
Expanded Seg $ 2,314,059 — 0 –
Per Patient (overall) $ 859 $ 742
Glenn