Missouri Advocates Push Medical Respite Care for Homeless Medicaid Members
Healthcare providers in Missouri are calling for the state to establish medical respite care as permanent infrastructure for Medicaid members experiencing homelessness who need post-acute recovery but lack housing. Haven Recovery in St. Louis reports that 27 Missouri Medicaid members served in 2024 saw combined inpatient, outpatient, and pharmacy spending decline by $2,193 per member per month after receiving recuperative care. Advocates propose four policy actions: establishing consistent Medicaid reimbursement pathways, defining quality standards, requiring shared outcome measurement, and supporting facility development. The article frames medical respite as a cost-effective bridge between hospital discharge and housing stability.
If Missouri formalizes Medicaid payment for medical respite, managed care plans would need to contract with qualified providers, adjust care coordination protocols for homeless members, and track new quality and utilization metrics tied to post-acute recuperative care.
Managed Care · LTSS
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