A Michigan woman was indicted on allegations that she intentionally misappropriated government funds that were designed to aid medical providers in the treatment of patients suffering from COVID-19 and used them for her own personal expenses. Acting Assistant Attorney General Nicholas L. McQuaid of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, Acting U.S. Attorney Saima Mohsin of […]
Tag: Health and Human Services
Missouri moves to allow recently retired healthcare providers to administer COVID-19 vaccine
Retired healthcare providers are now added to the list of those authorized to administer the two currently approved COVID-19 vaccines. Department of Health and Senior Services Director, Dr. Randall Williams, issued amended standing orders detailing who in Missouri is authorized to administer the vaccines following a move by federal partners to increase the available workforce. The […]
Audio: Former Missouri State Senator launches bid for Blunt’s U.S. Senate seat
Former Missouri State Senator Scott Sifton has announced today his bid for the seat currently held by Republican U.S. Senator Roy Blunt. Sifton unveiled his decision today in a launch video critical of both Missouri U.S. Senators. “Our country is at a critical point in its history,” Sifton says in a press release. “We just […]
Missouri State Lawmaker indicted for stem cell fraud scheme, illegally distributing prescription drugs
An elected Missouri State Representative has been indicted by a federal grand jury for a fraud scheme in which she made false claims about a supposed stem cell treatment marketed through her clinics in southern Missouri, and for illegally providing prescription drugs to clients of those clinics. Derges, a Republican, represents Christian County (District 140) […]
Health departments in Missouri fighting a lack of vaccine as new tiers open up on state COVID-19 plan
Wondering where to go to get a COVID-19 vaccine in Missouri? On Friday, the state launched an interactive map detailing where over 1,100 providers are located across the state. But not all locations identified on the map as providing the vaccine, actually have vaccines on hand to administer. And reports that the federal government has already exhausted its […]
Feds tell states to give COVID-19 vaccine to anyone 65 and older in bid to speed rollout
(Missouri Independent) – The Trump administration on Tuesday directed state officials to expand who is getting vaccinated for COVID-19, and announced that all available doses will be distributed to states instead of holding back a reserve of follow-up doses. Under the policy changes outlined by Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar, states should begin […]
Owner of hospice companies sentenced to 20-years in prison for $150 million health care fraud and money laundering scheme
A corporate executive has been ordered to serve 20 years in prison after his conviction related to falsely telling thousands of patients with long-term incurable diseases, such as Alzheimer’s and dementia, they had less than six months to live and subsequently enrolling them in hospice programs. A federal jury in McAllen, Texas, convicted Rodney […]
With no statewide mandate in Missouri, more local governments are requiring masks
(Missouri Independent) – In early July, the Columbia City Council passed an ordinance requiring everyone over 10 years old to wear a face mask when in close contact with someone from outside their household. Since that vote, a requirement for face masks has been in every health order issued for the city of 123,000 by the Columbia-Boone […]
Missouri receives $6 million in federal aid to create thousands of tech apprenticeships
The Missouri Chamber of Commerce and Industry Foundation is deploying $6 million in federal funding to create 5,300 new tech industry apprenticeships. During a virtual event Monday, President Dan Mehan calls the investment a game-changer. “There is an apprenticeship revolution going on in Missouri,” he says. “Over the last two years, our state ranks second […]
Initiative connects rural working families with valuable tax credit info
Starting in the 2020 tax season, more rural Missourians in need will be able to learn about their eligibility for the federal earned income tax credit (EITC), one of the nation’s largest anti-poverty tools targeting low- and moderate-income working families. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Minority Health has awarded $1.35 […]
Missouri sends initial shipment of COVID-19 antigen tests to schools statewide
State officials began shipping thousands of antigen test kits to public and private schools across the state today. Nearly 330 districts/schools applied to participate in Missouri’s BinaxNOW Antigen Testing Program for K-12 Institutions, requesting a total of nearly 583,000 test kits for use among symptomatic students and school personnel. These minimally invasive nasal swab tests […]
Missouri woman pleads guilty to financial exploitation of elderly and stealing, will pay over $9,000 in restitution
Missouri Attorney General Eric Schmitt announced that on October 15, 2020, Tashe Beach pled guilty in the Circuit Court of St. Louis City to two class D felonies of Abuse of a Person Receiving Health Care, one Class C felony of Financial Exploitation of Elderly Persons, one Class D felony of Financial Exploitation of Elderly […]