Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services

Only 18 of Missouri’s 500-plus school districts have signed up for screening testing for COVID-19, even though the program is entirely free thanks to the federal government.

New rules require state inspectors to report violations directly to Medicaid auditors, which could jeopardize funding.

Abortion-rights advocates say the rules are an attempt by state lawmakers to curb access to Planned Parenthood, the state’s only abortion provider.

Only 45,000 of Missouri adults who received the vaccine since the state announced its vaccine lottery have entered the statewide drawing. That's fewer than 15% of the more than 600,000 people in total who have entered the drawing for $10,000 prizes, which ends next month. Still, the state health director calls the vaccination lottery a success.

Donald Kauerauf said Thursday that as head of the Department of Health and Senior Services, he aims to boost the state’s COVID-19 vaccination rates. He supports masking and other public health measures to decrease coronavirus infections but opposes vaccine mandates. Instead, he said the state should focus on giving residents more information.

The state could end up paying Texas-based SLSCO up to $30 million through the emergency contract.

Missouri was awarded nearly $185 million in federal funds to support the program’s implementation.

The state health department will offer public, private and charter K-12 schools a screening COVID testing program for the upcoming school year

The money will be used to help hospitals with staffing and to set up five sites to give antibodies to high-risk patients.

Younger children, who cannot yet be vaccinated, are among those who may be more susceptible to the more-contagious variant.