Missouri Medicaid Director Todd Richardson Archives

Missouri’s House Budget Committee chair outlines alternative to Medicaid expansion; Kirk Mathews is Acting Medicaid director

April 6, 2021 By Brian Hauswirth

Missouri’s House Budget Committee learned new details Tuesday in Jefferson City about a budget blueprint from the committee chair to direct dollars slated for Medicaid expansion for other programs, including MO HealthNet. That’s the state Medicaid program.

Missouri House Budget Committee Chairman Cody Smith (R-Carthage) speaks on the House floor in Jefferson City on April 1, 2021 (photo courtesy of Tim Bommel at House Communications)

House Democrats are expected to oppose the plan, saying Missouri voters approved Medicaid expansion in August.

Budget Committee Chairman Cody Smith (R-Carthage) and the House Appropriations director presented House Bill 21, which is an eight-page bill. It’s just over $1 billion, with $894 million of that coming from federal funds.

Funding includes $26 million for programs like respite care, adult day care and home-delivered meals. Chairman Smith testifies the funding also includes $88.2 million for funding long-term care services for care in nursing facilities.

“This is an appropriation, a rate increase, that again as you (the House Appropriations director) noted, it’s written as a one-time increase. I think it’s up for up for question as to whether or not this should be a general revenue increase, or perhaps an f-map increase,” Smith testifies.

He says this involves a one-time nursing facility rate increase of about $10 per day.

While Chairman Smith opposes Medicaid expansion, his plan would provide an additional $735 million to the MO HealthNet Division for transitional payments. House Appropriations Director Glenn Fitzgerald testifies this is a brand-new proposal.

“This is 735-and-a-half million (dollars) federal funds for transitional payments related to Medicaid reform,” Fitzgerald testifies.

Then-State Rep. Kirk Mathews (R-Eureka) speaks on the Missouri House floor in Jefferson City on April 7, 2016 (file photo courtesy of Tim Bommel at House Communications)

HB 21 also includes $18 million for k-12 public school transportation, and $2 million for adult high schools. It also includes $11.6 million for treatment for alcohol and drug abuse, and $2.2 million for youth community programs. It also provides about $1 million in additional funding for the State Public Defender System.

There was no testimony in support or in opposition to Smith’s bill on Tuesday. Chairman Smith tells the audience that he hopes for a mark-up on either Thursday or Monday. This is a short week in Jefferson City, due to the Easter break.

Medicaid is a federal and state program that assists with medical costs for residents with limited incomes. 53 percent of Missouri voters approved Medicaid expansion in August, although it failed in 105 of the state’s 114 counties. Rural House members from those districts have led the opposition to funding Medicaid expansion.

House Democrats and Amendment Two supporters say Missouri voters have spoken. They say Medicaid expansion will help the working poor by expanding the program for residents between the ages of 19 and 64 with an income level at or below 133 percent of the federal poverty level.

The House voted to give final approval last week to a $34.1 billion state operating budget, which does not contain funding for Medicaid expansion.

We also learned during Tuesday’s one-hour hearing that former State Rep. Kirk Mathews (R-Eureka) is serving as the interim director at Missouri Medicaid, with Director Todd Richardson out on leave.

Mathews has been MO HealthNet’s chief transformation officer. He was first elected to the Missouri House in 2014 and and served two terms, from 2015-2018.

Parson’s Tuesday June 9 briefing: Do not defund police, dramatic increases in COVID-19 weekly testing in Missouri (FULL VIDEO)

June 9, 2020 By Ashley Byrd

Governor Mike Parson addressed calls to “defund the police” after two weeks of national protests against police practices, sparked by the video of the gruesome death of George Floyd in the custody of Minneapolis police. Parson was joined by State Highway Patrol Col. Eric Olsen on that topic. Parson also paid tribute to retired St. Louis police officer David Dorn, who was shot-to-death in downtown St. Louis as he protected a pawn shop from looters.

Missouri Medicaid Director Todd Richardson and Missouri DHSS Dir. Randall Williams updated COVID-19 testing rates and contact tracing plans statewide.

The governor’s next briefing is Thursday afternoon, and he will discuss further plans to open the Missouri economy.

(VIDEO) Highlights from today’s coronavirus briefing in Missouri

April 22, 2020 By Alisa Nelson

Gov. Mike Parson says almost every Missouri business will be able to reopen their doors May 4. During a virtual coronavirus briefing today, the governor says he’s developing policies and guidelines for communities to follow.

Gov. Parson (Photo courtesy of the governor’s Flickr page)

“Social distancing is going to be important,” says Parson. “That’s going to be a key role to how we move forward and I think it’s sort of important that we maintain that social distancing for some time. There will be guidelines we will give to cities, the counties across the state for state policy and it will be where people can get out again.”

St. Louis City, St. Louis County have indefinitely extended their stay-at-home orders. Kansas City’s runs until May 15.

Missouri reports today at least 208 coronavirus related deaths and more than 6,100 people have tested positive for the disease. More than half of the cases are from St. Louis City and St. Louis County.

Beginning next week, the state will use a machine to decontaminate up to 80,000 N95 masks per day. Parson says the device will help with the state’s mask shortage and prevent the spread the coronavirus.

“Hospitals, healthcare providers and first responders will have the opportunity to utilize the Battelle Critical Care Decontamination System to safely decontaminate N95 masks,” says Parson.

Missouri MO Health Net Director Todd Richardson (Photo courtesy of the governor’s Flickr page)

Missouri Medicaid Director Todd Richardson says a federal grant paid for the entire cost of the cleaning system. The state is expected to have the device for at least the next six months.

“This system uses hydrogen peroxide vapor to sanitize N95 masks up to 20 times per mask,” says Richardson. “The Battelle Decontamination System will bolster our supply of necessary PPE.”

There will be up to 13 drop-off and pick-up sites statewide for health care providers and first responders to drop off their N95 masks. Each organization will be responsible for correctly and safely packaging their contaminated masks and labeling them according to the directions provided by Battelle. The masks are then returned to the original drop-off/pick-up site approximately 72 hours following drop-off.

Any health care or first responder organization interested in using the Battelle CCDS to decontaminate N95 masks should enroll at www.battelle.org/N95.

Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services Director Dr. Randall Williams (Photo courtesy of governor’s Flickr page)

Missouri is moving to a new phase that will boost coronavirus testing in congregated places with an outbreak, such as assisted living centers and nursing homes. State Department of Health and Senior Services Director Randall Williams says the focus needs to be on these places due to the number of deaths occurring from within.

“And so if you’re going to do that, you start moving into what we call comprehensive testing – very similar to what we did this weekend in which you go in and you test a lot of people and you test them quick,” says Williams.

A Festus nursing home near St. Louis has had at least 64 cases and several other nursing homes and assisted living centers have reported coronavirus cases.

Meanwhile, U.S. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Kentucky, says he would rather let states struggling from the coronavirus declare bankruptcy instead of increasing federal aid that would require further deficit spending. Parson says he does not think states should be able to file for bankruptcy.

“I think the states should be responsible for how you spend your money and because you did a poor job of managing it, whatever those states may be, I don’t think the federal government should come and bail you out,” says Parson.

Current law does not allows states to declare bankruptcy.

Today’s briefing:

State creates first alternative hospital, PPE access still a problem, Parson announces in April 8 briefing (VIDEO)

April 8, 2020 By Ashley Byrd

Missouri’s coronavirus count is 3,327 cases today.

Today’s COVID-19 press briefing focused on a new alternative hospital to be set up in Florrisant, near St. Louis. Governor Mike Parson reiterated the struggle to get enough personal protective equipment (PPE’s).

WATCH FULL PRESS CONFERENCE:

Key takeaways from today’s COVID-19 press briefing

March 19, 2020 By Alisa Nelson

Gov. Mike Parson is holding daily press briefings to get the word out about how the state is dealing with COVID-19. Several cabinet members joined him. Here’s what they had to say:

Gov. Mike Parson

There have been 28 people who have tested positive for the coronavirus. One of those patients – from mid-Missouri’s Boone County – died Wednesday from the respiratory disease.

Parson opened up today’s briefing by saying he is not ready to order businesses to close. He pointed to the diversity within Missouri’s urban and rural communities.

“Making a decision like that is much easier said than done,” says Parson. “I don’t think it’s the right thing to do at this time. There is a lot more that goes into the decision than simply just telling businesses to close their doors. That being said, this is not a decision we are taking lightly.”

Parson says the state is reviewing whether Missouri will speed up the process to get benefits to unemployed workers affected by the coronavirus. He expects thousands of Missourians to lose their jobs due to consequences of the respiratory virus.

Department of Labor Director Anna Hui says the state’s Shared Work program is an alternative for businesses facing a decline of 20% to 40% in available work.

Missouri Department of Labor Director Anna Hui

“For the hours that they actually work, then they are paid at their regular rate,” she says. “For the hours they are no longer working, they will then be able to collect unemployment insurance for that day. This program, in particular, helps to lower the immediate impact on the unemployment insurance trust fund. It also allows for employees to be paid at a higher rate.”

Benefits are available up to 52 weeks.

As for state workers, Parson says state government must still function. However, departments are taking precautions to ensure the health and safety of employees.

The Missouri House has passed a plan that would include $33 million in emergency federal funds during the current state budget year to handle the coronavirus outbreak. The governor’s state emergency declaration freed up another $7 million in state funding elsewhere in the current budget. Several Democrats say the amount is not enough and Republicans think it is but say lawmakers could add more money later if necessary. The plan heads to the Senate, which is on break until at least March 30.

Governor Parson says he’ll be meeting with House and Senate leaders soon to discuss the budget.

“We’re going to all have to rethink the budget process this year about where we are financially. But this is a lot more than COVID-19. This is thousands of people losing their jobs. This is businesses closing down. There’s a lot of things that are going to be at stake. For me as governor, I want it to be about as wide open as we can make it to deal with COVID-19,” says Parson.

MO HealthNet Director Todd Richardson

Through the end of the federal emergency declaration, the Missouri Department of Social Services will not remove patients from Medicaid unless they ask to have their coverage stopped or move out of state. MO Healthnet Director Todd Richardson says the move is consistent with a federal coronavirus response plan passed by Congress this week.

“Additionally, Missouri HealthNet will be extending 90 days of coverage to Missourians age 19 to 64 who meet the income and resource requirements to the current program and test positive for coronavirus 19,” says Richardson.

Richardson, a former speaker of the Missouri House of Representatives, says Missourians who are on Medicaid will not be charged copays for coronavirus testing. The state has also relaxed early refill policies to allow those on Medicaid to more easily get their prescriptions.

Missouri will be asking the federal government to let the state streamline some requirements for healthcare providers responding to the coronavirus. Richardson says the changes involve prior authorization requirements, enrollment, licensing and revalidation of providers.

“As well as removing restrictions as necessary on the number of beds and length of stays that can happen at a critical access hospital,” says Richardson. “It will also give our providers the flexibility to provide care in alternative settings.”

To enable health providers to serve Medicaid patients, the state is fast-tracking new provider enrollment applications and waiving requirements like application fees and on-site visits.

For 90 days, the state is also waiving all food stamp work requirements for able-bodied adults without dependents.

Child Care subsidy benefits have been extended for 90 days. The Child Care Subsidy program will work on a case-by-case basis to approve additional hours of care for families affected by COVID-19. Child Care Subsidy provider application renewals are extended for 90 days.

Missouri Department of Public Safety workers are organizing personal protective gear for health providers and first responders on the front lines. So far, 27 hospitals and 44 emergency management service agencies have requested the equipment. Missouri Department of Public Safety Director Sandy Karsten says the state will get the supplies to first responders after more comes in next week.

All of Missouri’s K-12 public and charter schools have closed. Parson did not order them to shutter – locals school leaders made the decision. The governor has defended his decision many times since day one as being a local control issue.

Missouri prison inmates will also be doing their part. They will be making hand sanitizer to help prevent the spread of COVID-19. Parson says they will produce more than 2,400 gallons of sanitizer every two days.

Listen to the full briefing below:

Missouri Medicaid Director Richardson to present budget this week (AUDIO)

February 9, 2020 By Brian Hauswirth

The state’s Medicaid director will present his budget to the Missouri House Budget Committee Tuesday morning in Jefferson City.

Former Missouri House Speaker Todd Richardson opens a special session on June 11, 2018. Richardson is now the state’s Medicaid director (file photo courtesy of Tim Bommel at House Communications)

The hearing is set for 8:15.

During his January State of the State Address, Governor Mike Parson (R) credited former House Speaker and current Medicaid director Todd Richardson for finding $84 million in savings, in the Medicaid system.

“While some in the press are eager to criticize this improved efficiency – or outright misrepresent it – the truth is that this system has been broken for many years and unproductively serving every Missourian who is paying for it,” Governor Parson told a joint session of the Legislature on January 15, in Jefferson City.

Richardson says that savings is important.

“Across the program, you know with both big chunks and small chunks we’ve been working to identify those efficiencies that allow us to deliver a better program,” Richardson says.

Medicaid is a federal and state program that assists with medical costs for residents with limited incomes. Missouri’s Medicaid budget is about $10 billion, accounting for more than one-third of the state’s $30 billion operating budget.

Governor Mike Parson criticized Medicaid expansion during his State of the State Address on January 15, 2020 in Jefferson City (photo courtesy of Tim Bommel at House Communications)

Governor Parson and Richardson say that savings is important to protect citizens who need Medicaid services the most. Director Richardson says there’s more work to do.

“We’ve got to work together to build a best-in-class Medicaid program that provides for the needs of Missouri’s most vulnerable, but does so in a way that’s financially sustainable,” says Richardson.

Richardson was appointed to his post by Governor Parson, and has been in the position since November 2018.

Statistics provided by the state Department of Social Services (DSS) show the number of Missourians on Medicaid has decreased from 953,000 in August 2018 to 846,000 now. Richardson will likely face some questions on Tuesday from lawmakers about thousands of children who have recently been removed from Medicaid.

The “Springfield News-Leader” reported this weekend that State Rep. David Wood, R-Versailles, says thousands of children removed from the Medicaid rolls were likely still eligible for coverage. The newspaper quotes Wood as saying that paperwork for the parents is horrendous, and that the state could do a better job of helping people through the process.

Wood is the House Budget Committee’s vice chairman.

Another issue that could come up during the hearing is Medicaid expansion. Governor Parson opposes it, as does Richardson. Director Richardson tells Missourinet he’s focused on reforming Medicaid, not expanding it.

“There will be a tremendous cost to Medicaid expansion and costs that frankly the state doesn’t have,” Richardson says.

Richardson’s focus is on operating a better program that produces better outcomes, in a financially sustainable way.

House Speaker Elijah Haahr, R-Springfield, and House Budget Committee Chairman Cody Smith, R-Carthage, also oppose Medicaid expansion. They say it would take dollars out of the classroom, noting it requires a ten percent match for the 90 percent draw down.

Speaker Haahr has warned that it would blow a hole in the general revenue budget.

But Democrats like House Minority Leader Crystal Quade, D-Springfield, and State Rep. Deb Lavender, D-Kirkwood, support Medicaid expansion. They have said 100,000 children have lost their Medicaid coverage and that it’s an emergency.

The organization “Healthcare for Missouri” also backs Medicaid expansion, citing a recent report from the Missouri Hospital Association and nine other healthcare organizations.

“This new research (the new report) only adds to the growing body of fact-based evidence that Medicaid expansion will not just save lives but could also save taxpayers money. The recent examples of Arkansas, Indiana, and Ohio show three states that have used Medicaid-derived savings to cut income taxes, increase government efficiency and improve worker productivity,” Healthcare for Missouri campaign spokesman Jack Cardetti’s statement reads, in part.

Medicaid expansion supporters also note that eight rural Missouri hospitals have closed in recent years.

Click here to listen to the full interview between Missourinet’s Brian Hauswirth and State Medicaid Director Todd Richardson, which was recorded on January 15, 2020 at the Statehouse in Jefferson City: