(Missourinet) – About 16,000 children and 4,000 parents fell off the Medicaid rolls in Missouri between June and July, the biggest drop-off in over a decade. A shortage of 150 workers at the program’s outsourced call center is being blamed as part of the problem.
State Medicaid Oversight Committee Chairman Tim McBribe thinks low wages at the call center are an issue.
McBride contends Missouri has very few such people compared to states that have expanded Medicaid. He says the cost of implementing work requirements would outweigh any potential savings from restricting eligibility.
McBride also thinks the federal health care program will experience fewer cuts to services under Republican Governor Mike Parson than under former GOP head of state Eric Greitens.
The state’s healthy revenues mean it’s currently in good shape to absorb an increase in Medicaid costs, which typically climb by $300,000,000 annually.
