Department of Social Services amends welfare contract to appease lawmakers
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Department of Social Services amends welfare contract to appease lawmakers

Date: April 24, 2013
By: Christine Roto
State Capitol Bureau

Intro: 
The Missouri Department of Social Services sent a letter to lawmakers Wednesday agreeing to make changes to a contract pushing Medicaid recipients to federal disability payments.
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OutCue:  SOC

Wrap: Under the contract, the state would pay Public Consulting Group for each person recieving cash benefits or Medicaid, as well as each foster child it moved to federal disability.  

Some lawmakers said earlier in the week they feared the contract would ultimately lead recipients to a lifetime dependent on federal aid.

In a letter sent to lawmakers, the department said it will amend the contract so PCG will only focus on those with serious medical conditions.

Here's Republican House Speaker Tim Jones on the changes:

Actuality:  JBTJ6.WAV
Run Time:  00:09
Description: "We want our disability system to be one that provides assistance to those that have medical conditions or disabilities that truly will prevent them from working."
 
He says the amended contract will help protect disability services by scaling back who they encourage to apply for federal aid.

Reporting from the state Capitol, I'm Christine Roto.

Intro: 
Republican state lawmakers say they're pleased with changes the Social Services Department made to a contract regarding state welfare recipients.
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OutCue:  SOC

Wrap: Under the contract, the state would encourage each person recieving cash benefits, Medicaid as well as foster children to move to federal disability, but now it will only focus on those with serious medical conditions.

The department claimed the contract would save money for taxpayers by moving the welfare recipients to federal,rather than state-funded, aid.

Earlier in the week Republican Representative Jay Barnes said he feared the contract would result in some being pressured into federal aid for their entire lives.

But Barnes and other House Republicans indicated their optimism about the changes made to the contract.

Actuality:  JBTJ5.WAV
Run Time:  00:03
Description: "I think this is going to actually save the state of Missouri money and it's the right thing to do."
 
Republican House Speaker Tim Jones says the amended contract will help protect disability services by focusing on those who truly need aid.

Reporting from the state Capitol, I'm Christine Roto.