The Health Department Director doesn't know how many Medicaid recipients await services after split with SynCare.
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The Health Department Director doesn't know how many Medicaid recipients await services after split with SynCare.

Date: September 8, 2011
By: Jenner Smith
State Capitol Bureau

Intro: 
The Missouri Health Department Director doesn’t know how many Medicaid recipients await services after split with SynCare.
RunTime:  0:39
OutCue:  SOC

Wrap: Although the Health Department ended its contract with the third party provider last week, Director Margaret Donnelly still does not know how many Missourians still await Medicaid services.

Many private providers want to form a partnership with the state.

However, Donnelly says she believes it is best for the department to handle the issue internally.

Actuality:  DONNELLY.WAV
Run Time:  00:14
Description: "As we have assessed the situation, we really believe in the immediate future that it is the quickest and most orderly transition to have the state staff assume all of these responsibilities."


Donnelly does not know when the department will receive an exact number.

Intro: 
An unknown number of Medicaid recipients are still waiting for their services across the state.
RunTime:  0:34
OutCue:  SOC

Wrap: While the Missouri Health Department severed ties with SynCare last week, the department still does not know how many Medicaid recipients are being affected.

But Director Margaret Donnelly says she believes that the state staff can take care of the situtation the quickest and in the most orderly transition.

Representative Thomas Long disagrees and says he believes private providers should get involved.

Actuality:  LONG.WAV
Run Time:  00:06
Description: "I think it would be better for us to involve the providers in getting rid of this backlog and in moving forward."


Donnelly does not know when the department will receive an exact number.