Pediatricians in Missouri are sounding the alarm about the impact of Medicaid application processing delays on children’s healthcare. Dr. Maya Moody shared a story of a child missing out on a cochlear implant due to a Medicaid lapse. Since Missouri resumed Medicaid eligibility checks last year, over 136,000 children have lost coverage. Many qualify but face paperwork issues. The state’s processing times have been among the worst in the nation, leading to delayed or forgone medical care and hospitalizations for children. Pediatricians like Dr. Thuylinh Pham have seen kids with chronic conditions unable to afford medications and ending up in the ER. Dr. Heidi Sallee recounts a case where a child was hospitalized due to an asthma exacerbation after losing Medicaid. Families are forced to make difficult decisions about their children’s healthcare due to financial concerns. Dr. Shanon Luke witnessed families postponing preventative care due to disenrollment, while patients in rural areas face limited access to pediatricians who accept Medicaid. The situation is exacerbated by systemic issues within the Medicaid system, including technology failures and staffing shortages. Parents like LaNetta Nole are struggling to get their children back on Medicaid, with long wait times on the phone and in-person visits yielding minimal results. Advocates are frustrated with the state’s lack of action to address these issues, leading to prolonged hardships for families in need of healthcare services.
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