The Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services is investigating four cases of Legionnaires’ disease among previously hospitalized patients at Phelps Health in Rolla, Missouri. The first case occurred in May 2021. The source of the bacteria that caused these individuals to acquire infection is under investigation. Out of an abundance of caution, DHSS is […]
Tag: DHS
Governor Parson signs Executive Order 22-1 establishing Missouri Early Childhood State Advisory Council
Governor Mike Parson signed Executive Order 22-1 to consolidate Missouri’s early childhood advisory groups into one with the creation of the Missouri Early Childhood State Advisory Council. “Last year, we streamlined services to Missouri’s children and families by consolidating the state’s fragmented early childhood programs into the Office of Childhood. This year, we are further […]
Due to increased demand, COVID-19 testing sites added in St. Louis and Kansas City area
Due to the increase in demand for COVID-19 testing, the Department of Health and Senior Services and partners are continuing to bring additional free community testing sites to St. Louis and Kansas City. At this time, these are scheduled as drive-through testing events. Some sites require pre-registration and scheduling; others allow walk-ins. The schedule of […]
Missouri Supreme Court weighs in on whether medical marijuana applications can be disclosed
(Missouri Independent) – A company denied licenses to grow medical marijuana in Missouri urged the state Supreme Court Tuesday to compel regulators to provide application info that the health department has argued it’s constitutionally obligated to protect. At issue is the Department of Health and Senior Services’ refusal to turn over applications of successful license […]
Temporary benefit increase extended through March, 2022 for Missouri WIC participants
Missouri WIC is extending the temporary increase of the Cash Value Benefit for Fruit and Vegetable Purchases for January, February, and March 2022. The increase is the same amount as November and December: $24.00 per month for child participants, $43.00 per month for pregnant and postpartum women participants, and $47.00 per month for breastfeeding women […]
Controversial bill would have aided Orscheln Products LLC, under scrutiny for contamination
(Missouri Independent) – Two years ago, a company led by an influential Republican businessman faced off with the state’s environmental regulators over whether it needed to do additional testing for a chemical that health officials worried could pose a cancer risk to the company’s workers. The Moberly manufacturing facility, Orscheln Products LLC, is owned by […]
First case of COVID Omicron variant found in Missouri
(Missouri Independent) – The omicron variant of COVID-19 has made its way to Missouri, with the first case announced Friday. In a news release, the Department of Health and Senior Services said it was notified by public health partners of a presumed positive case for the variant that came from a St. Louis resident who […]
Missouri health director wanted to appeal judge’s COVID ruling. Missouri Attorney General Eric Schmitt refused
(Missouri Independent) – Attorney General Eric Schmitt will not appeal a consequential court ruling that strips powers from local health departments, despite a request from Missouri’s state health director to do so. In an email to The Independent, Schmitt’s spokesman said the attorney general’s office notified the Department of Health and Senior Services of its […]
Audio: Missouri Department of Health watching progress of Omicron variant
Officials with the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services say they’re keeping an eye on the spread of the latest Covid-19 variant. So far, the Omicron variant has not made it to Missouri, but the first case in the United States has been detected in a man who flew into California from […]
Breakthrough infection data added to Missouri’s COVID-19 dashboard
A new addition to the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services statewide COVID-19 dashboard finds that vaccination remains a strong defense against the virus, and that older age and health co-morbidities are strongly correlated with “breakthrough infections.” The new data identifies COVID-19 breakthrough infections among the fully vaccinated. The analysis is the result of a partnership […]
Missouri gives nursing homes a way to temporarily close in face of federal vaccine rule
(Missouri Independent) – With over 40% of Missouri’s nursing home staff still unvaccinated, the state health department is giving long-term care facilities a route to avoid losing their license if they shut down due to staffing shortfalls after a federal vaccine requirement kicks in next month. On Friday, the Department of Health and Senior Services […]
Winter Weather Preparedness Week is November 15 – 19
In addition to frigid temperatures and snow and ice, winter brings dangerous driving conditions and the potential for damaging and deadly storms. That’s why the National Weather Service, the State Emergency Management Agency, and Missouri’s local emergency managers are teaming up to promote Nov. 15-19, 2021, as Winter Weather Preparedness Week in Missouri. “Most Missourians have […]
Missouri Attorney General files motion for preliminary injunction in border wall lawsuit
Missouri Attorney General Eric Schmitt and the Texas Attorney General’s Office filed a motion for preliminary injunction in their lawsuit against the Biden Administration for refusing to continue construction on the Southwest border wall. Missouri and Texas filed suit in late October to require the Biden Administration to continue construction on the border wall using […]
Federal grand jury subpoenas sought records from Missouri medical marijuana regulators
(Missouri Independent) – Twice last year a federal grand jury demanded the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services turn over records pertaining to the medical marijuana program. The pair of subpoenas, issued by the United States District Court for the Western District of Missouri in September 2020, were redacted by the department at the […]
Moderna and J&J COVID-19 booster shots now being administered to eligible Missourians
Following federal guidance issued from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services (DHSS) has amended the state’s standing orders for Moderna and Janssen (Johnson & Johnson) COVID-19 vaccine administration for those who are eligible for a booster shot. For individuals who received a Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna COVID-19 vaccine, the […]
Missouri and Texas Attorney Generals file suit to require Biden Administration to build border wall
Missouri Attorney General Eric Schmitt, along with the Texas Attorney General’s Office, filed suit against the Biden Administration for refusing to spend money appropriated to continue to build the wall on the southwest border as the border crisis continues to worsen. The lawsuit aims to force the Biden Administration to resume construction on the border […]
Winners announced in final MO VIP drawing
Winners of the fifth and final drawing of Missouri’s Vaccine Incentive Program (MO VIP) were announced at this link. Since Governor Mike Parson announced the launch of the program on July 21, MO VIP has been incentivizing COVID-19 vaccination, while also providing an opportunity for rewards for the Missourians who had already made the decision to be […]