Missouri Department of Social Services

Missouri received the ninth-largest award of any state from the federal Rural Health Transformation Program, part of the GOP spending law passed by Congress over the summer. But it still amounts to less than a third of what rural areas will lose from reduced Medicaid spending.

A federal judge ruled last year Missouri’s food aid system was “overwhelmed,” had wrongly denied assistance to applicants, and had caused many to go hungry. A new bill signed by President Trump will cut SNAP funding and add work requirements, which will likely worsen the problems.

Refugees and asylum grantees are among those who can no longer qualify for federal nutrition support until five years after obtaining green cards, because of new restrictions in President Trump's budget bill.

After weeks of uncertainty, Kansas released SNAP benefits to residents on Friday, while Missouri plans to release benefits — either full or partial payments — later this week. But the recent Trump budget bill added a number of restrictions to the program.

The Missouri Department of Social Services said it was awaiting further instruction about distributing SNAP benefits, as the USDA appeals a court decision requiring it to fully fund the program during the shutdown.

Missouri won’t distribute November's SNAP benefits, at the instruction of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, due to the federal shutdown. Food pantries across Missouri say they don't know how they'll keep up with a flood of demand and loss of funding.

Because the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program is funded by the federal government, the ongoing shutdown means states aren't getting that money. House Minority Leader Ashley Aune said it will be devastating for Missouri families.

Gov. Mike Kehoe says the alteration prioritizes healthy foods and nutritional value. It would restrict the use of SNAP benefits to purchase candy, prepared desserts, soda and other drinks.

There are more than 37,000 federal employees in the state of Missouri that could be impacted, as well as certain state agencies' funding, if Congress doesn't pass a budget bill.

In a wide-ranging interview, MoHealthNet director Todd Richardson discussed some of their big challenges — such as incoming work requirements, and new federal restrictions on a tax that helps Missouri pay for the program.

The new federal law is expected to eliminate $1 trillion in federal spending on Medicaid over the next decade. University Health in Kansas City, which counts on Medicaid for more than half of its patient revenue, expects a huge financial hit but vows that cutting services and staff will be the last resort.

Despite no legislative action on boosting Missouri Children's Division starting salaries, Gov. Mike Kehoe says Department of Social Services leaders could soon take action themselves.