Missouri Health Department is still not giving straight Syncare answers.
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Missouri Health Department is still not giving straight Syncare answers.

Date: November 10, 2011
By: Jenner Smith
State Capitol Bureau

Intro: 
Missouri's Health Department director dodged legislator's questions on what her department is doing to assure home health care for the state's elderly.
RunTime:  0:46
OutCue:  SOC

Wrap: Health Department Director Margaret Donnelly acknowledged to a House Committee Thursday that more than one-thousand Missouri critical needs patients are still waiting their Medicare services.

But she dodged 11 repeated questions by House Budget Committee Chairman Ryan Silvey on what penalty the state imposed on SynCare.  

Actuality:  SYNCSLVY.WAV
Run Time:  00:17
Description: Did you, Director Donnelly decide not to fine this company 5,000 dollars a month... We looked at all of the... I'm not asking you what you decided to do. Did you decide not to fine... I told you what I decided to do.. Alright Mr. Chairman, I have have no more use for this. Obviously we're not getting anywhere.

Silvey then stormed out in frustration. 

Following the hearing, Donnelly abruptly left and refused to answer my questions.

Reporting from the state Capitol, I'm Jenner Smith.

Intro: 
It's been two months since Missouri split with SynCare, yet more than a thousand of the state's most critical needs patients still await services.
RunTime:  0:36
OutCue:  SOC

Wrap: ...And Missouri Health Department Director Margaret Donnelly told a House Committee Thursday the state is considering contracting another third party assessor to get rid of the backlog.

Lobbyist for the Missouri Council for In-Home Services Scott Penman disagrees.

Actuality:  PENMAN.WAV
Run Time:  00:13
Description: "The concept is not workable. I don't think we need another trial balloon affecting our senior citizens and disabled population who are trying to stay at home to maybe see if another company just doesn't screw it up as badly."

Following the hearing, Donnelly abruptly left and refused to answer my questions.

Reporting from the state Capitol, I'm Jenner Smith.