Dr. Maya Moody, a pediatrician in St. Louis, is concerned about the kids losing Medicaid coverage in Missouri. Due to recertification processes, over 136,000 children have been dropped from Medicaid since June 2023. This has led to delays in medical care, including missed vaccines, preventive care, and prescriptions for chronic diseases. Processing times for Medicaid applications in Missouri are among the worst in the nation, with many applications taking longer than the recommended 45 days to process. This has resulted in children being hospitalized due to lapses in coverage, as families struggle to afford medications and medical care.
Pediatricians like Dr. Thuylinh Pham and Dr. Heidi Sallee have seen children suffer due to Medicaid lapses, with some ending up in the emergency room because they couldn’t afford their medications. Parents are faced with difficult decisions about their children’s healthcare, with some delaying necessary medical care due to financial concerns. Access to pediatric care is limited in rural areas, exacerbating the issue for families living in those areas.
Advocates and parents, like LaNetta Nole, are struggling to navigate the complex Medicaid system in Missouri to get coverage for their children. The state is facing technology and staffing issues, making it difficult for families to get answers about their coverage. Parents are making sacrifices, such as postponing dental care, due to the uncertainty and delays in Medicaid coverage.
Overall, the Medicaid coverage issues in Missouri are causing significant harm to children in need of medical care. Pediatricians and advocates are calling for improvements to the system to ensure timely access to healthcare for all children.
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