Over 55,000 Missouri Children Lose Health Coverage

Georgetown Center for Children and Families’ new report shows that kids around the country are losing the health insurance they need. In Missouri, 55,634 kids lost Medicaid & Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) coverage in 2018.

From the Executive Summary:

“There is no debate over the fact that children are losing Medicaid and Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) coverage. Overall, more than 828,000, or 2.2 percent, fewer children were enrolled in Medicaid and CHIP, combined, at the end of 2018 than the previous year.^1 2 A drop in child enrollment is unusual; between 2000 and 2016, enrollment declined in only one year—2007—by 1.1 percent.³ During this period, the nation achieved historic success in covering children with the rate of uninsured children reaching an all-time low of 4.7 percent in 2016. In 2017, child enrollment in Medicaid and CHIP was basically flat while the uninsured rate for children increased for the first time in a decade to 5 percent despite the strong economy.⁴

The decline in children’s enrollment in Medicaid and CHIP reinforces serious concerns that this alarming trend could continue—and perhaps even worsen. At a time when the economy is strong, the critical question is whether these children are moving to private coverage or becoming uninsured—a question that will not be answered definitively until the U.S. Census Bureau’s American Community Survey data become available this fall.”

For the full report, go to: https://bit.ly/2W27pA5

Sex Trafficking–A Community Response

By Sara Lahman, Annie Malone CEO

Allison Mack, 36, best known for her role as Chloe in Smallville, pleaded guilty recently to charges of racketeering conspiracy and racketeering as a result of her involvement with Nxivm, a controversial alleged cult founded by Keith Raniere. Mack reportedly recruited women to become “obedient female companions” for Raniere. She admitted to luring women into Nxivm who were “extorted and coerced into following Raniere’s orders.” [1] The group claimed to be a “self-help” group. Mack will be sentenced September 11, 2019 on the two racketeering counts and faces a maximum of 20 years in prison.  She was originally charged last year with sex trafficking, sex trafficking conspiracy, and forced labor conspiracy. As for Raniere, he is charged with multiple counts of sex trafficking along with wire fraud and most recently, an added charge of child pornography. 

The Nxivm case has generated quite a bit of publicity namely because of its high-profile participants such as India Oxenburg, daughter of Dynasty actress Catherine Oxenburg, and heir to the Seagram’s liquor fortune, Clare Bronfman who is charged with racketeering. The same can be said of the media circus surrounding R&B superstar R. Kelly who was indicted on 10 counts of aggravated criminal sexual abuse charges involving four victims, including teenagers below the age of consent. [2]  

But sadly, not enough attention is paid to the thousands of victims of sex trafficking who are exploited every day in this country. The pain and suffering they feel is every bit as traumatizing as that of the women exploited by Mack and allegedly by R. Kelly. Often, their plight is ignored because they are in many cases, the forgotten ones. Too often, the victims are young teens with severed connections to family. They may be runaways or homeless youth. They are preyed upon daily. Young people signing on for what they think are glamorous jobs traveling the country selling magazines are often victims of labor trafficking. Juvenile boys and members of the LGBTQ community are exploited and beaten and engage in survival sex. [3] This happens every single day in the United States of America.  Read more “Sex Trafficking–A Community Response” →

How to Save a Life

By Kevin Drollinger , President and Executive Director, Provident Behavioral Health

As experts in child advocacy, members of MCCA are well aware of the alarming trends in suicide among young people. It’s the tenth leading cause of death state-wide and the second leading cause of death for Missourians ages 10 to 24. It is a battle that intensifies as we lose more children and parents, spouses and grandparents, friends, neighbors, and employees with each passing day.

This is why it is crucial for everyone in our industry to arm themselves with suicide prevention knowledge.

The first step to helping those in crisis are to recognize the warning signs of suicide. These include:

Read more “How to Save a Life” →

Missouri Foundation for Health Partners with Kaiser Family Foundation

Missouri Foundation for Health (MFH) and KFF (the Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation) have entered into a new long-term partnership to establish a KHN (Kaiser Health News) Midwest Bureau, based in St. Louis, Missouri.  KFF – the trusted source of health policy information – produces health policy analysis, polling, and journalism, and KHN is its national health and health policy newsroom, producing in-depth news coverage of health care policy and politics. An editorially independent program of KFF, KHN’s more than 50 journalists are mostly based in KFF’s Washington, D.C. offices or in California.

Read more “Missouri Foundation for Health Partners with Kaiser Family Foundation” →