The balanced budget recently passed by the House of Representatives, which is currently being discussed in the Senate, contained a variety of Medicaid reforms to improve the services available to recipients and conserve taxpayer dollars.
These changes are designed to strengthen the system while working within Missouri’s existing Medicaid population and funding level. To improve healthcare in our state, the House budget included money for:
- A state-of-the-art healthcare fraud detection system to proactively identify improper payments
- A pilot program to provide coordinated healthcare for foster children through health homes
- Asthma education and home environment assessments for families with children with asthma
- Preventative dental care for adults on Medicaid
- Improved care for mentally ill individuals
- Coverage for rehabilitative therapies and complex rehab therapy items like individualized wheelchairs
The St. Louis Post-Dispatch detailed these reforms and the changes made by the Senate in a recent article. I cannot speak to the accuracy of the entire article, but it gives a fair explanation of the reforms I added to the budget bills through the Appropriations – Health, Mental Health, and Social Services committee.