Bill White: Committee issues recommendations to improve MO HealthNet

(From Sen. Bill White, R-Joplin)

After conducting five hearings and listening to testimony from state leaders, advocates and stakeholders, the Senate Interim Committee on Medicaid Accountability and Taxpayer Protection is in the process of writing the second of two reports on our state’s MO HealthNet (Medicaid) program. 

The first report dealt with abortion providers and their affiliates, and I’m pleased to report that the Department of Health and Senior Services and the Department of Social Services have issued emergency rules to tighten up their rules and regulations, which if not followed, can affect licensure for such facilities. 

The second report focuses on the efficacy of our MO HealthNet system and contains the following five main recommendations to improve our state’s Medicaid program:

Use our surplus of federal COVID and stimulus funds to replace outdated computer information systems within the Department of Social Services and the Department of Health and Senior Services;

Develop a public dashboard to help benefit recipients navigate the programs and improve transparency;

Create a unified a fee schedule to align services throughout the state and improve managed care;

Modify the state statute relating to abuse in senior care facilities by adding a negligence provision;

Extend MO HealthNet coverage to one year for postpartum women to address our state’s high maternal mortality rates.

I want to thank the members of the committee, the department leaders and committed citizens who took the time to work with us on these issues. I believe our recommendations will improve the quality, transparency and outcomes of our state’s Medicaid Program.