Missouri Budget Project

Hope to see you Friday!

This Friday from 10am-12pm, please join us, Vision for Children at Risk, and St. Louis Child Abuse and Neglect Network Stlcann as we discuss the 2024 legislative session and how it impacts children and families in Missouri! Panelists include Amy Blouin from Missouri Budget Project, Jessica Seitz from Missouri KidsFirst, and Casey Hanson from Kids Win Missouri.

🔗 Register: bit.ly/2024MOLegislativeWrap

ATTENTION MEDICAID PARTICIPANTS - The FSD Benefits Portal has new features! You can now check the status of your (or your child's) benefits in the FSD Benefits Portal. Log in or create your account today at buff.ly/3Q9jWiZ

It's official! Over 210K Missourians signed the petition to bring earned and to MO. We're proud to have broad support from >100 organizations representing hundreds of thousands of Missouri families. Missourians for Healthy Families and Fair Wages https://mohealthyfamilies.org/endorsements/

Warning: A doomsday budget could be rolled out next week if the Missouri Senate fails to take action to renew a key provider tax. “There will be cuts.” It’s time for to renew the FRA.

In budget gamesmanship, Missouri lawmakers could see doomsday spending plan Lawmakers are operating under a May 10 deadline to finalize the state budget.

"The Perryman Group estimates that bills and initiatives currently under consideration in Missouri which could be seen as discriminatory have the potential to lead to losses including nearly $2.6 billion in annual gross product and 23,842 jobs as of 2030....These declines represent more than 0.6% of total output (gross product) and approximate 0.8% of current employment."
https://healthforward.org/story/anti-dei-laws-have-economic-consequences-in-kansas-missouri/

With just weeks remaining in the 2024 session, the Senate must act by renewing the FRA, or federal reimbursement allowance, which provides critical funding for Medicaid and frees up revenue to support other critical state services. Read more: https://missouriindependent.com/2024/04/22/senate-battle-over-taxes-that-fund-missouri-medicaid-leaves-state-budget-in-limbo/

Senate battle over taxes that fund Missouri Medicaid leaves state budget in limbo • Missouri Independent A bill renewing the federal reimbursement allowance taxes that fund Medicaid in Missouri is hung up in a factional fight among Republicans.

New analysis: Expansion of school vouchers like those through the Missouri Empowerment Scholarship Accounts would require school districts to increase the amount of local funds for public schools, potentially requiring local tax increases.

School Vouchers Would Increase Costs for Local Taxpayers - Missouri Budget Project State lawmakers are considering legislation that would expand the Missouri Empowerment Scholarship Accounts Program, or vouchers. While the financial impact of vouchers would vary widely by district, some increases could be substantial and may require a local tax increase.

ATTN: Child Health Advocates - Your last chance to register for the 42nd Annual Child Advocacy Day is TODAY. Don't miss this chance to meet hundreds of advocates & legislators at the Capitol to be a voice for kids. Register --> bit.ly/MOCAD2024

So, the votes of 20% of Missouri voters become more powerful than 80% of us.

Https://missouriindependent.com/2024/02/05/as-few-as-1-in-5-voters-could-defeat-initiative-petitions-under-missouri-senate-proposal/

As few as 1 in 5 voters could defeat initiative petitions under Missouri Senate proposal • Missouri Independent The bill set for Senate debate would require a majority vote in 82 House districts and a statewide majority to pass constitutional amendments.

All Missourians want to live in vibrant, healthy communities, where we have the opportunity to thrive from childhood to retirement. But our state’s upside-down and outdated tax system is holding us back from making this vision a reality.

30 years of Missouri tax cuts boosted the richest. Regular families are left behind | Opinion Low-income and middle-class residents pay a much higher share of their income than the wealthy, and our state has some of the most generous corporate tax loopholes in the U.S. | Opinion

It's Awareness Day! Missouri's Working Families Tax Credit helps families across the state make ends meet. By making the credit refundable, can advance opportunity for working families and unleash the full power of the credit. Learn more:

Improving Missouri’s Working Families Tax Credit - Missouri Budget Project In Missouri, working families with low wages generally pay a higher share of their income in state and local taxes than do the highest earners. Improving the state’s working families tax credit would make Missouri’s tax structure more fair, further incentivize work, and provide multiple long ter...

Missouri’s tax system is upside-down, with the wealthy paying a smaller share of their income in tax than low- and middle-income families – and coming income tax cuts will slightly widen that disparity. Learn more: https://itep.org/whopays-7th-edition/
Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy

Last week, announced a $4 M partnership to launch the Missouri Perinatal Psychiatry Program. This program will enhance care for new & expectant moms facing mental health & substance abuse challenges. Read more: https://bit.ly/46Tgcsn

Gov. Mike Parson partners with MU School of Medicine to close maternal mortality gap Governor Mike Parson announced a partnership with the Missouri School of Medicine to provide training for healthcare providers to aid patients in perinatal care

Rep. Melanie Stinnett played a key role as a champion for postpartum coverage extension for moms on Medicaid this year. Read her commentary on how this policy change is a major step towards a healthier Missouri here --> https://bit.ly/3t1w0vi

Melanie Stinnett: A transformative step toward a healthier Missouri With the complexities of passing meaningful reform, it is not uncommon for substantive health care legislation to face hurdles. Our Legislature is made up of people from many diverse backgrounds

We released a new report last week about CHIP Premiums in Missouri. Reducing or eliminating premiums could help more families access continuous health coverage for their children - read more: https://bit.ly/2023CHIPpremiums Kids Win Missouri , Missouri Chapter American Academy of Pediatrics, Missouri Coalition of Children's Agencies.

ICYMI - Missouri received exciting news last week - CMS has approved the state's plan to provide 12 months of postpartum coverage for women with MO HealthNet! This is a big win for moms, babies, and communities throughout Missouri!

Huge win for Moms and Babies!

Today, DSS received the exciting news that 12-month postpartum coverage for women with MO HealthNet has been approved! This extension of postpartum benefits for women with MO HealthNet coverage was passed in 2023 by the Missouri Legislature and signed into law by Kids Win Missouri Governor Mike Parson

One of the best parts about our work, are our community of wonderful partners that celebrate with us!

For 20 years, Missouri Budget Project has been shaping policy and building a foundation for every Missourian to thrive. They have been a long-term Health Forward partner, and we were so thrilled to help them celebrate this milestone last night. Thank you for your essential work!

Thanks for celebrating with us friends!!

Congratulations to Missouri Budget Project on 20 years of being an excellent policy partner – cheers to y'all! 🥂

👻Managing your Medicaid doesn't have to be scary! Watch this short video from
to learn how to set up your benefit portal account and stay ahead of annual renewals for your and your kids!

Create Your Benefit Portal Account The FSD Benefit Portal is an easy and secure way to manage your benefits. Watch this short video to learn how to set up your new account! For more informatio...

In Honor of Missouri Budget Project’s 20th Anniversary - Missouri Budget Project Please join us at one of our cocktail receptions to celebrate and help us continue our legacy of creating opportunity for every Missourian. Tuesday, November 7th5:30-8:30 Thursday, November 9th5:30 – 8:30 p.m. Boulevard Brewing Company2501 Southwest BoulevardKansas City Third Degree Glass Factory5...

Join us in St. Louis and Kansas City as we celebrate 20 years of improving the lives of Missourians! We'll be celebrating with our friends and supporters at Boulevard Brewery on November 7th in Kansas City and the Glass Factory in St. Louis on November 9th. RSVP here:

In Honor of Missouri Budget Project’s 20th Anniversary - Missouri Budget Project Please join us at one of our cocktail receptions to celebrate and help us continue our legacy of creating opportunity for every Missourian. Tuesday, November 7th5:30-8:30 Thursday, November 9th5:30 – 8:30 p.m. Boulevard Brewing Company2501 Southwest BoulevardKansas City Third Degree Glass Factory5...

ICYMI - Three months into annual renewals and children are losing coverage at a high rate. Read more in this article and take steps to ensure children maintain their Medicaid coverage. https://missouriindependent.com/2023/09/26/nearly-half-of-all-missouri-medicaid-terminations-in-last-three-months-have-been-children/?fbclid=IwAR3Ys7uoFgjuNguE4sVyA7ituDGzGyOovZRaeA8NAYYBLtkHOtKEb-j7pZs

Nearly half of all Missouri Medicaid terminations in last three months have been children • Missouri Independent Another 12,833 children were removed from the state’s Medicaid program in August — more than three-quarters because of paperwork issues.

As we head into cold and flu season, it's critical that we help kids and families have the health care coverage that they need. If you have coverage through MO HealthNet, sign up through the DSS portal to keep your information current.

ICYMI - as Medicaid annual renewals continue, Missouri kids are losing health coverage at alarming rates. (read: https://www.publicnewsservice.org/2023-08-24/youth/half-those-losing-medicaid-in-mo-are-children/a86000-1). Make sure you know what steps to take to ensure your kids maintain coverage by visiting https://mydss.mo.gov/renew.

Half Those Losing Medicaid in MO are Children With the pandemic era ending, Medicaid annual renewals are unwinding in Missouri. Eligibility for Medicaid is being verified and more than 54,000 residents have already lost coverage in June and July. Timothy McBride, professor of public health at Washington University in St. ...

Make sure to add keeping kids covered to your Back-to-School checklist! If you’ve received a renewal form in the mail for or , make sure to fill it out ASAP to avoid a gap in coverage for your family. Learn more: https://bit.ly/42zSChY

With the new FSD portal, Medicaid participants can track deadlines, access forms, and renew coverage in a one-stop shop. Watch this video & sign up today to help ensure you & your child keep continuous health coverage!

Creating Your FSD Benefit Portal Account The FSD Benefit Portal is an easy and secure way to manage your benefits. Watch this short video to learn how to set up your new account!For more information...

As annual renewals continue, you don't want to miss anything from FSD! Sign up for the FSD Customer Portal to access your renewal date, timelines, & forms you can complete online. Visit my.mo.gov/fsdbenefits for more information.

FSD Benefits Landing - Benefits Portal