Reimbursements
Q
& A | Sharing the Cost 
|
Standard Means Test | Reimbursements
Home
Service Costs Shared by Many
Caring for and treating people with mental illnesses, developmental disabilities, and those with substance abuse problems is expensive. In Missouri, such care can cost hundreds of dollars per day. Many families cannot bear the cost for this care and treatment alone. The Missouri Department of Mental Health is here to help.
Through its many programs, the Missouri Department of Mental Health provides assistance to thousands of persons. Many resources must be tapped to help recover costs incurred. The department, however, makes every effort to provide quality services to its consumers while keeping costs as low as possible.
For example, third-party benefits are applied to offset costs first. Those benefits can come from private or public health insurance policies, or from Medicare or Medicaid.
If those payments are insufficient, a consumer or his family is asked to contribute a portion of the costs based on the family's ability to pay for care given to a consumer. Those charges are determined using a table that considers family size and income.
The Standard Means Test is administered by each individual facility. It is applied uniformly throughout the state and is reviewed annually.
Many factors are considered in determining a consumer's ability to pay. A client's earned income, unearned income and household size are some of the factors taken into consideration. When the consumer is in need of full-time, long-term (inpatient or placement) care, assets are also considered. Unearned income, including benefits from disability, survivor's retirement, or pension plans, is used first. Examples of unearned income include payments by the Social Security Administration, the Veterans Administration, the Railroad Retirement Board, the Civil Service Commission and the Family Support Division. Earned income from wages and salaries is charged if unearned income fails to cover costs.
However, a consumer is permitted to keep some income for personal spending. The amount, $30 a month or more, is determined by the team of professionals planning for a consumer's care.
Missouri law requires the Department of Mental Health to charge for the services it provides and to take certain steps to recover its costs. The charges to a consumer or his family, however, are kept to a minimum so services are affordable to all. Missouri law also requires the state to recover costs from a deceased consumer's estate.
By sharing the costs with a consumer or his family, the department is able to offer better care. And caring is what the Department of Mental Health is all about.
Admission Checklist
You should provide the following information when admitting a family member to one of Missouri's mental health facilities.
- Insurance company name and address
- Insurance policy or group number
- Medicare number
- Medicaid number
- Proof of Income (Pay Check Stub; Last Year's Tax Return)
- Proof of Dependents (Copy of Income Tax form)
- Proof of Residency (Utility Bill; Bank Statement; Driver's License)
- Social Security number of consumer, spouse, or parents of a minor child
To receive a copy of the Standard Means Test Rule, contact:
Department of Mental Health
Reimbursements Section
1706 E. Elm St.
P.O. Box 687
Jefferson City, MO 65102
573-751-4122
573-751-2881 (TT)
