Missouri declines optional hardship exceptions to Medicaid work rules
Missouri's Department of Social Services has decided not to adopt optional short-term hardship exceptions to federal Medicaid work requirements taking effect nationwide January 1, making it one of three states, along with Iowa and Indiana, to decline all four exceptions. The declined exceptions would have covered high-unemployment counties, extended medical travel, federally declared disaster areas, and hospital or nursing facility stays. The department says it will instead rely on mandatory federal exemptions for medical frailty and caregivers to cover situations like acute medical events and specialized medical travel. Six of Missouri's eight neighboring states plan to offer the short-term hardship exceptions, and national experts say the mandatory exemptions Missouri is relying on may not cover everyone hospitalized for short-term conditions or anyone affected by local economic disruption like a plant closure.