MO Changes Policies for Medicaid and SNAP benefits

The state has updated some policies to help Missourians struggling during the Coronavirus outbreak. During a press conference last night at the Capitol, MO HealthNet Director Todd Richardson says Missourians who are on Medicaid will not be charged copays for Coronavirus testing. He says the state is taking many steps to ease the burden on citizens.

“The Family Support Division will be utilizing the new authority created by the federal and state emergency declarations to streamline eligibility processes both for Medicaid and for Supplemental Nutrition benefits. We have made the decision that we will be suspending annual renewals for the months of March and April and we will be delaying those scheduled for May and June.”

Missouri has also relaxed early refill policies to allow those on Medicaid to more easily get their prescriptions and it has enhanced the state’s health provider outreach.

Governor Parson all added that those on the front lines will get personal protective equipment soon.

“We currently will be shipping out about 370,000 of those units. We’ll load them on a truck. They’ll be starting the delivery process in the next couple of days. We’ll start delivering that across the state of Missouri. Once we get that distributed, we’ll request for that same amount again.”

Parson says the state has the ability to do about 1,600 tests daily.