D S S P R E S S R E L E A S E
For Immediate Release:
January 16, 2008
Contact: Sara Anderson
(573) 526-0407
Gov. Blunt Announces Insure Missouri and Mo HealthNet on Track
Jefferson City – Gov. Matt Blunt announced today that exceptional progress is being made to implement Insure Missouri and Mo HealthNet. Insure Missouri provides new access to affordable health insurance for lower-income working Missourians. Mo HealthNet replaced the old Medicaid program with a new focus on wellness, prevention and coordinated care.
"Gov. Blunt's vision for a new health system for Missouri citizens will have an enormous impact on our state," said Deborah Scott, Department of Social Services Director. Insure Missouri and MO HealthNet bring the changes we need to provide access to quality health coverage to Missourians."
Gov. Blunt’s Insure Missouri plan will provide health coverage to about 200,000 uninsured Missouri workers. Up to 55,000 are expected to enroll in Phase 1 this spring. Insure Missouri is being introduced in three phases with enrollment in the first phase starting as early as next month for working parents and caregivers with earned income up to 100% of the federal poverty level or $20,650 for a family of four.
Insure Missouri is a significant step towards helping Missourians gain health coverage. It is a part of an overall plan to reform health care in Missouri under Gov. Blunt 's leadership that began with Mo HealthNet. The governor signed Mo HealthNet in July 2007 to replace the state's failing Medicaid program. Since its inception, Mo HealthNet has made positive healthcare changes for thousands of Missouri citizens by providing healthcare coverage to young people aging out of the foster care system; changing affordability tests to allow more children to qualify for the Mo HealthNet for Kids program; helping workers with disabilities maintain their healthcare coverage through the Ticket to Work program; and helping those with chronic illness better manage their conditions through the Chronic Care Improvement Program.
The centerpiece of Mo HealthNet is the health care home, which will provide every participant with a home base for health care and encourage access to primary care. So far, more than 500,000 of the nearly 830,000 Mo HealthNet participants are currently reaping the benefits of coordinated care and health care homes. By June 30, 2008, all MO HealthNet participants are expected to be enrolled in their selected health care home. Mo HealthNet also uses the benefits of technology by streamlining approval processes and ensuring accuracy in electronic prescribing and prior authorization for services.
