Missouri Department of Social Services

Missouri Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft tweeted that a job posting for a “diversity, inclusion and belonging leader” was an example of “left-wing indoctrination in the workplace” and the wrong use of taxpayer dollars. State agency leaders say inclusion and belonging programs help retain employees during a severe staffing shortage.

In the year after Missouri expanded Medicaid, the state struggled to sign up people for the government-funded health insurance program. Now, more than 1 million Missourians are enrolled. The federal government barred states from kicking anyone off Medicaid during the coronavirus pandemic. But when those protections expire this spring, patients will need to renew their coverage. Advocates and health officials worry that eligible people could drop off the rolls.

Missouri on average took 41 days to process a Medicaid application in September for the eligibility group which includes low-income children, pregnant people, families and adults.

House Speaker Rob Vescovo is calling for the U.S. attorney’s office to get involved because he believes local officials ‘either turned a blind eye to, or helped to cover up’ abuse at Agape Boarding School.

The Missouri Department of Social Services’ Children’s Division has come under intense scrutiny from lawmakers for low morale, low pay and high vacancies of caseworkers, which has led to caseworkers being assigned far more cases than they can handle.

The lawsuit follows passage of a supplemental budget bill that bars abortion providers or their affiliates from being reimbursed through Medicaid.

About 275,000 Missourians were expected to gain health care coverage in the first year, according to estimates used by the Missouri Governor's Office. But just over 62,000 people have actually signed up so far.

Legal advocates are going to court to seek benefits for Missourians who they say are being illegally shut out by a protracted application process.

A federal lawsuit filed Tuesday against the Missouri Department of Social Services alleges that its unresponsive call line and burdensome application process for food assistance violates federal law and residents' constitutional rights.

Voters in Missouri and Oklahoma approved Medicaid expansion to begin in 2021. But while Oklahoma has enrolled over 200,000 people so far, Missouri has enrolled fewer than 20,000. Why are two such similar states handling the public insurance rollout so differently?