Social Services to reimburse Mid-Missouri woman following computer error

Rocheport resident Lillian Lynn got calls from three different government departments Friday after several months of trying.

We’ve been telling you she has been battling with D.S.S about her Medicaid benefits.

Friday, she said things are getting better… At least for her.

Lynn said her pharmacy is reimbursing her the $800 after being denied benefits to pay for her grandkids’ medicine for three months.

Missouri’s Department of Social Services kept blaming it on a computer glitch.

ABC 17 also found more people who are dealing with the frustration of this computer glitch.

Lynn said she has seen significant changes with the D.S.S in the past 24 hours.

After not hearing from anyone in a government office she said things changed after the first report ran Thursday night.

Lynn said, “We have had a lot of action today. This is major progress.”

This progress resulted in several calls from D.S.S, the state’s Medicaid program, Congresswoman Vicky Hartzler’s office, as well as the Division of Family Support Friday.

A social services spokeswoman told ABC 17 that anyone having the same problem as Lynn needs to get in touch with the department and it will make the right people available.

Lynn, who had to go back to work to afford the medicine, said she is being reimbursed now that her grandchildren are declared eligible through D.S.S.

“I can sleep at night now not worrying if they get this sickness that’s going around or anything or how I was going to pay the doctor bill. So, yes, it’s a lot of stress taken off of me,” said Lynn.

She explains how she thinks her problem was solved.

“Until I was able to find information on who I should call, get the telephone numbers and by making calls and I can thank Channel 17 News for that and then doing this story. I think all of that has made a great difference,” said Lynn.

When ABC 17 talked to Lynn this afternoon the story had reached 18,000 people online and several people were saying the same thing was happening to them.

Lynn said she has advice for those people in the same situation as she is.

“You must contact either your state senator, you’ve got to contact your representative and just stay with it. If that doesn’t work, go to a news service and they will give you the help that you need.”

Department of Social Services’ Rebecca Woelfel encourages anyone experiencing these problems to call or e-mail her office.

Her office number is 573-751-4815.

E-mail is Rebecca.Woelfel@dss.mo.gov.

She also said to call the Customer Relations Unit in Jefferson City at 573-751-8959.

In response to a recent media report detailing the failure of the Missouri Department of Social Services to pay Medicaid benefits in a timely fashion, House Speaker Tim Jones issued the following statement:

“Our Medicaid system is meant to provide healthcare to our most vulnerable citizens and it is disappointing to see an alleged ‘glitch’ place additional financial strain on someone who is simply trying to provide her grandchildren with the medications they need. This is a problem that Gov. Nixon’s Department of Social Services needs to work quickly to rectify. It is disappointing that the Governor’s agencies continue to fail so many Missourians in so many ways. I have asked Rep. Sue Allen to look into this issue in the hope she can work to prevent similar issues from adversely impacting other Missourians in the future.”