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by Michael Smith The Grain Valley softball team is starting to get some national recognition. The Eagles are ranked No. 8 in the MaxPreps.com National High School Softball rankings and they are No. 9 on the National Fastpitch Coaches Association poll. It’s been a special season for head coach Flip Courter and his girls as they have run roughshod over their competition. They did so again in Thursday’s Suburban White Conference matchup against William Chrisman as Grain Valley’s offense exploded in a 17-0 mercy-rule victory in three innings over the Bears on the road. The win clinched an outright conference title for the Eagles as they improved to 29-1 on the season. “It’s really cool,” Courter said. “People are going to tell you rankings don’t really matter. It’s not where you start, it’s where you finish. We have done something that has never been done before (at Grain Valley), to be nationally ranked.” Grain Valley only scored four runs of William Chrisman starting pitcher Aunalea Rakestraw in the Eagles’ 4-0 win on Sept. 17. This time, the Eagles played with more energy and intensity, which resulted in a much better offensive output. We hit the ball a lot better today,” Courter said. “Last time we played them, of the 18 outs they recorded, 15 of them were in the air. We came in today with a bigger intention on hitting the ball hard on line drives and on the ground. We stayed up the middle.” Added junior Addy Wright: “I think it was our energy. We didn’t come out with the same energy last game. That energy was apparent in the first inning as the Eagles scored 10 runs. The big hit in the inning game when junior Sydnee Wagner hit a bases-clearing double on a line drive to center field. A six-run second inning was highlighted by a towering solo home run from Grain Valley junior catcher Olivia Slaughter as she deposited the ball over the left-field fence. It was her seventh of the year and it was her third consecutive game with a homer. “She’s starting to heat up which is good this time of year,” Courter said of Slaughter. “She kind of went through this last year where she got off to a shaky start and then caught fire toward the middle part of the season until the end. She’s doing that now, too. That is something we expect out of her.” Added Slaughter: “I am not going up there trying to hit a home run. I am swinging hard, but when it happens it’s nice. I will take that forever.” Senior Sal Haley also had a two-run double which she drilled over the head of Chrisman center fielder Brianna Wyenandt. In the third, when Courter subbed in the majority of his reserves, freshman Mackenzie Rust capped the scoring with a sacrifice fly for a run. Multiple Eagles had big days at the dish. Sophomore Madison Rust was 2-for-2 with three runs scored; Wright was 3-for-3 with three runs scored and two RBIs; junior Sydnee Wagner was 2-for-2 with runs and three RBIs; Haley went 3-for-4 with a run and three RBIs; and Slaughter was 2-for-3 with two runs and two RBIs. In the circle, junior Sidney Hemme tossed a one-hitter and didn’t allow a walk and struck out seven. Grain Valley junior Olivia Slaughter, left and Addy Wright were named players of the game by head coach Flip Courter after a 17-0 mercy-rule win over William Chrisman Thursday on the road. The win clinched an outright Suburban White Conference title for the Eagles. Photo credit: Michael Smith
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by Michael Smith Kearney connected with a couple of haymakers early, but Grain Valley wasn’t going to go down without a fight. The defending Class 4 state champions scored two touchdowns less than 3 minutes into Friday’s game at Moody Murray Memorial Field. The Eagles fought back and kept the game within two scores until early in the third as Kearney pulled away in the second half to top the Eagles 29-6. On the first play of the game, Kearney quarterback Carter Temple connected on a deep ball to senior Grant Noland for a 66-yard touchdown to make it 6-0 after Grain Valley blocked the extra-point attempt 15 seconds into the game. On Grain Valley’s first drive, quarterback Chase Neer fumbled and the ball was recovered by Kearney senior defensive back Trent Fritz at the Eagles 26. Temple later hit pay dirt on a 3-yard run on an option play to put his team up 13-0 at the 9:45 mark in the first period. Senior kicker Jacob Dillon later tacked on a made 24-yard field goal with 21 seconds left in the first to extend the lead to 16-0. The Eagles (4-2), however, did not go away. Grain Valley marched into Kearney’s red zone and senior running back Robert Palmer made it into the end zone on a 3-yard run in the second quarter. But the touchdown was negotiated by an illegal formation penalty. Grain Valley had another chance to score on the same drive as it had the ball on the Bulldog 3 once more on fourth down. Eagles head coach David Allie called a jet sweep for speedy freshman wide receiver Dawson Head, but he was stopped about a half yard short from the goal line by Noland, forcing a turnover on downs. “We had some opportunities,” Allie said. “We had an opportunity to show what we are by playing a great opponent. The wheels could have fallen off early. They had two quick scores, so we had to settle down and take a deep breath. “We could have hung it up. We didn’t give up. We sustained some drives; we just couldn’t get in the dang end zone. We converted on third down a couple of times. We didn’t get the job done and we have to find a way to do that.” The 16-0 score held until halftime before the Eagles scored on their first drive of the game early in the third period. Senior running back Robert Palmer found some running room behind his left guard and tackle as he broke away for a 57-yard TD run to cut Kearney’s lead to 16-6 after a failed two-point conversion attempt. Palmer finished with 150 yards on 22 carries. “Other than the big run, we were pleased with how we defended him,” Kearney head coach Logan Minnick said of his defense trying slow down Palmer, who now has more than 1,000 yards rushing this season. “He’s one of those players you don’t ever stop him, you just hope to contain him a little bit. He’s going to make plays. There were a couple of times we had his runs defended perfectly and he breaks three, four, five tackles. He’s a heck of a ball player for those guys. I am glad we don’t have to play him again.” However, Kearney immediately delt a backbreaker to Grain Valley when Noland returned the ensuing kickoff 95 yards for another score to make it 22-6 after another point after try was blocked. Grain Valley appeared to have scored early in the fourth when senior linebacker Aiden Woodrome blocked a field goal attempt from Dillon and senior defensive back Jordan Fuller scooped up the ball and ran it all the way to the other end. But the officials ruled the play dead and did not award the Eagles with a touchdown after an inadvertent whistle was blown. Kearney later put it away with 1:24 left in the game as Temple hit a wide-open tight end Drew Nelson for a 14-yard passing score. The Eagles tried to surprise the Bulldogs with more passing plays and found some success. Neer had a solid game passing the ball as he completed 9 of his 12 attempts for 91 yards. “We tried to break some tendencies,” Allie said. “We threw it a little bit. Kearney did a good job scheming to take some stuff away on our inside runs. We had to start attacking the edges a little more. We tried to not be as predictable.” The 16-0 score held until halftime before the Eagles scored on their first drive of the game early in the third period. Senior running back Robert Palmer found some running room behind his left guard and tackle as he broke away for a 57-yard TD run to cut Kearney’s lead to 16-6 after a failed two-point conversion attempt. Photo credit: John Overstreet Sophomore Sjoeren Aumua looking for some running room. Photo credit: John Overstreet The Jackson County Election Board has added two additional locations for voters to cast absentee ballots for the November election.
In addition to the Independence location at 110 N Liberty, Independence, voters may cast absentee ballots in Blue Springs at the Fleming Meeting Hall, 21906 SW Woods Chapel Road, or at the Ranger Rec. Building in Lee's Summit, 3310 Rennau Drive. The dates and times for each location are provided in the graphic below. The first four weeks of absentee voting require an acceptable excuse why you are not able to vote on Election Day. The final two weeks of absentee voting requires no excuse. Photo ID is required. For more information on absentee voting, visit Absentee Voting | Jackson County Missouri Election Board (jcebmo.org). What stands out when you visit Cross Fit Fig in Grain Valley is the sense of community. Friends catch up before and after class, members are high fiving each other as they complete their runs outside the building, and participants support each other as they move throughout their workouts. Owner Felix Figueroa, a former college football player, knew this was one of the keys to Cross Fit's success when he first experienced it himself. "I was always into fitness. Cross Fit was the most fun and most challenging form of fitness I'd encountered, and I could see this being something a lot of people would enjoy to break up the boredom of normal gym workouts," Figueroa said. Cross Fit Fig has been in business for more than 13 years at locations in Blue Springs and Grain Valley, finally settling at their location at 1500 NW Broadway in Grain Valley, where they've created a welcoming environment for participants at every stage of fitness. While Cross Fit has become more widely known through social media videos of elite athletes completing impressive feats in gyms or in the Cross Fit Games, Figueroa explains that Cross Fit is truly for individuals at every level of fitness and those who are just beginning their fitness journey are welcome and more the norm at the gym. "What you see first is the Cross Fit Games or YouTube videos of elite Cross Fit athletes. Those are so far from what we are here on a daily basis. And that's been any Cross Fit gym's biggest challenge, is countering those messages that it's scary, intimidating, or intense. Really, it just takes that courage to step through the doors, and once you get in here and try it, you realize 'oh wow, this is not what I thought it was', and you get hooked". New attendees start off with an intro session with one of the coaches. "We guide you through step-by-step what we do on a day-to-day basis. You go through some foundational movements, and we will teach you how to perform each movement properly," Figueroa said. "It's like group fitness and personal training, without the cost of personal training. We always have our eyes on you, and we are motivating you and making sure you are doing the right things." While the workouts are different every day, the routine is the same. Participants start at the whiteboard to go over the workout for the day and break down any complex moves. "And then, at your own pace, we allow you to add a bit of weight at a time. Along the way, we're monitoring you to make sure every movement you do is safe." As Figueroa explains, there are endless modifications can be made to meet participants where they are in their fitness journey. "On a typical day, you'll see every walk of life. Fit, unfit, new participants, and veterans to our gym. They are all doing the same workout, but they are doing it to whatever their fitness level is. For example, if it's a pull up. If you can do a pull up, you'll do a pull up. If you are not there yet, maybe you'll try a jumping pull up. If that's too hard, you may try what we call a low bar pull up. All those progressions are designed to get you to the next hardest progression, and if your goal is to do a pull-up, you'll eventually get there. And that goes for every movement." Figueroa says the community that comes from participants at all different levels of fitness makes it that much more welcoming for new guests. "Within your first week, you'll make friends here. Because everyone knows what it's like to start, and the intimidation you feel. Everyone's done it, and so they treat those new people how they were treated when they first started. The environment of support from the coaches, the fellow classmates is unmatched. We say the coaches will motivate you, and we will, but that won't be your number one source of motivation. It will be the people around you that support you." Cross Fit Fig offers a Fit Start Intro Rate for new guests, which includes a free introductory session and two-month intro rate, as well as two guest passes each month to share with friends. For more information, visit CrossFit FIG | Your New Gym for Health and Fitness. Find Cross Fit Fig on Facebook crossfit fig - Search Results | Facebook. Owner Felix Figueroa supports individuals at all levels of fitness to achieve their goals and be a part of a welcoming community at Cross Fit Fig, located at 1500 NW Broadway, Grain Valley. Cross Fit Fig is located at 1500 NW Broadway St, Grain Valley, MO 64029.
by Michael Smith Losing four of the top six singles players in a high school tennis lineup is tough to deal with. Often, it would result in a rebuilding year for that squad. For the 2024 Grain Valley girls’ tennis team, it hasn’t. The Eagles had four of their top six singles players from the 2023 team graduate. That required veteran head coach Randy Draper to elevate some of his junior varsity players up to varsity and he even inserted a pair of freshmen into his lineup in 2024. This season, Grain Valley hasn’t missed a beat. That was evidenced in its Suburban White Conference matchup with Belton. The Eagles dominated and earned an 8-1 victory Tuesday at home. The Eagles improved to 17-4 with the win and finished the reason unbeaten in conference play at 7-0. “This team is better than we thought going in,” Draper said. “Our kids have got so much better. I am really pleased with that. We have a couple of freshmen in our varsity lineup, and they have gotten so much better. We won the conference again. That is a pretty good habit we would like to keep up.” Avery Lunn was one of those freshmen who stepped up and has taken over the No. 6 singles spot for the Eagles. She is playing tennis for the first time after her brother talked her into playing. On Tuesday, she won her singles match 8-5 and teamed with fellow freshman Payton Hazlett in the No. 3 doubles match and the duo won 8-6. “I like playing doubles,” Lunn said. “It’s just fun to play with the girls. It’s a good community and I am happy to be there. We have been playing together for a while. I think our chemistry is pretty good.” Lunn, however, was critical of her singles performance. “I thought I played decent,” Lunn said. “I didn’t play how I should. I kept giving her easy points. My serves could have been better. This is my first year playing. I think I am doing good (this season).” Draper noted the freshman has made some strides, though. “Her (Avery) placement of the ball is so much better, and her backhand is a lot better,” Draper said of Lunn. “She just needs to relax some more so she can put strategy to use.” Junior Courtney Hicks made a big jump from junior varsity team to the No. 3 singles spot on the varsity squad. She dominated her singles match in an 8-1 win and paired with junior Delany Thurn in the No. 2 single match, which they won 8-2. “For doubles, I feel a lot better about my net game,” Hicks said. “I have been working on that. For singles, I hit with good pace and stayed in it. I played good today. During my freshman year, I was on the C team and last year I was on JV and now I am on varsity. I have moved up quite a lot from last year to this year. I have done well with the transition. I have been able to play up to the level I need to.” Thurn won her singles match 8-0 in the No. 4 match. No. 1 singles player Brooklyn Spencer, a senior, won 8-2 in singles and formed a duo with senior Catherine Barnes to take the No. 1 doubles match, 8-0. Barnes won her No. 2 singles matches easily, 8-1. Grain Valley freshman Avery Lynn will her No. 6 singles match 8-5 and teamed with freshman Payton Hazlett in the No. 3 doubles match and won 8-6 during the Eagles' 8-1 win over Belton in their final Suburban White Conference game of the season. Photo credit: Michael Smith Grain Valley junior Courtney Hicks win the No. 3 singles match 8-1 and paired with junior Delaney Thurn to take the No. 2 doubles match, 8-2. Photo credit: Michael Smith
Jackson County will host a Household Hazardous Waste collection event on Saturday, October 5th from 8:00am - Noon (or until trucks are filled) at Jackson County Public Works, 34900 E. Old US Highway 40, Oak Grove.
Residents of Grain Valley, Oak Grove, Greenwood, Lake Lotawana, Lake Winnebago, Lone Jack, unincorporated Jackson County and other counties in the Regional HHW Collection program may attend this or any of the other mobile events free of charge. ID with proof of residency is required. Accepted materials include batteries, paint, lawn and garden chemicals, automotive fluids, florescent light bulbs, and household cleaners. Household waste only - no business waste. For more information on other HHW disposal options, visit recyclespot.org or call 816-701-8226. Jackson County Public Health (JCPH) reported Wednesday of a confirmed case of pertussis, also known as whooping cough, associated with a student at Blue Springs High School. In a release, JCPH stated it is currently working in partnership with the school district to curb further infections among the greater community.
“Pertussis is a contagious respiratory illness that may initially seem like a common cold,” Bridgette Shaffer, Health Director at Jackson County Public Health said. “This disease can have very serious complications, especially for infants or for those with chronic health conditions like asthma.” While pertussis cases remain generally low, health department staff have seen increased numbers of pertussis cases over the past four weeks. Symptoms of pertussis may include:
The onset of pertussis symptoms typically begins within seven to ten days post-exposure. It spreads when an infected person coughs, sneezes, breathes, or talks, releasing droplets breathed in by those nearby. Those with mild symptoms may unknowingly pass the disease on to others. Early antibiotic treatment is generally recommended, especially in infants and young children. The best protection against pertussis is vaccination (DTaP and Tdap), which many children receive in infancy and before starting school. Certain populations are at higher risk for serious complications from pertussis, including:
Further information about pertussis can be found on the CDC’s website or by calling JCPH’s Communicable Disease Hotline at (816) 404-9898. It’s that time of year when tailgating is king, and cool breezes inspire us to hold on to summer. How about taking a tropical twist on your next tailgating event? Make mangos part of your outdoor menu for a sweet and delicious celebration of sporting events, turning every bite into a win!
Why Mangos?
The Secret to Selecting & Slicing The color of a mango isn’t always a reliable indicator of ripeness. Instead, focus on the way a mango feels. Ripe mangos are slightly soft to the touch; a medium-ripe fruit is slightly firm, and unripe mangos will be very firm. Flavor ranges from sour-tart to naturally sweet (ripe mangos), and they can be enjoyed at any stage of ripeness. Store unripe mangos at room temperature. If firm, place them in a brown paper bag for a few days to ripen. Once ripe and soft to the touch, they can be refrigerated to slow down ripening. Cutting a mango is as easy as 1—2—3—4 once you navigate the large seed in the center. Be sure to wash the fruit, have a sharp knife, and have a clean cutting board dedicated to fruit/produce.
Tropical Mango Mania – Fun Foods for Tailgating
Game On! Get ready for game day with tropical, mouthwatering mango recipes. This winning approach is sure to treat your tailgating partners with naturally sweet, nutritious, and unique culinary options. Remember to plan ahead, pick the perfect mango for timely ripeness, and enjoy the game! Are you struggling to plan healthful menus? Hy-Vee Dietitians provide a personalized approach with our Healthy Habits Menu Program. To learn more about Healthy Habits and our other available services, schedule a complimentary Discovery Session today by contacting our Discovery Call Center at [email protected] or (515) 695-3121. Learn more about Hy-Vee Dietitian Services here. Mango Basil Barbeque Chicken Flatbreads (Serves 4) Starting with shredded cheese and already-cooked chicken helps ensure you can prep this delicious app in 20 minutes. For a tailgating time-saver, use ready-to-go flatbread such as Hy-Vee 10" Flatbread Pizza Crust or Stonefire brand. All you need: ¾ c. Heineken 0.0% alcohol-free beer 2 tbsp. Gustare Vita basil pesto 2 c. Hy-Vee all-purpose flour ½ tsp. Hy-Vee salt 2 tbsp. Gustare Vita olive oil ¾ c. organic mango jalapeño BBQ sauce 2 ¼ c. Hy-Vee shredded mozzarella cheese, divided ¾ c. Hy-Vee Kitchen picked rotisserie chicken 1 c. chopped mango ½ c. red bell pepper strips Fresh basil, for garnish All you do:
Source: Mango-Basil Barbecue Chicken Flatbreads | Hy-Vee Nutrition Facts per serving: 590 calories, 23 g total fat, 8 g saturated fat, 1110 mg sodium, 70 g total carbohydrates, 3 g dietary fiber, 15 g total sugars, 0 g added sugars, 24 g protein. Daily Values: Iron: 20%, Calcium: 30%. Vitamin D: 0%, Potassium: 6% Missouri Amendment 6: Should court fees fund retirement for sheriffs and prosecutors?by Mary Sanchez, Beacon: Missouri Missouri voters will decide Nov. 5 if retirement funds for sheriffs and prosecutors should be supported with fees collected on court cases. A fee used to fund sheriffs’ pensions was put in place by state law in 1983. The Missouri General Assembly placed Amendment 6 on the ballot to reverse a 2021 Missouri Supreme Court ruling that found the fees unconstitutional. The state’s high court found that court fees for pensions were “not reasonably related to expense of the administration of justice” and thus violated a constitutional ban against using court fees to enhance the compensation of executive department officials, which would include retired county sheriffs. If approved by a simple majority of voters, the Missouri Constitution will be changed, allowing the legislature to fund benefits for the state’s 114 elected county sheriffs or their surviving spouses through the collection of a $3 fee per case where a guilty verdict or plea is reached. Retirement benefits for prosecutors are also included, through a $4 fee. The exact ballot language is below: Shall the Missouri Constitution be amended to provide that the administration of justice shall include the levying of costs and fees to support salaries and benefits for certain current and former law enforcement personnel? State and local governmental entities estimate an unknown fiscal impact. Fair Ballot Language: A “yes” vote will amend the Missouri Constitution to levy costs and fees to support salaries and benefits for current and former sheriffs, prosecuting attorneys, and circuit attorneys to ensure all Missourians have access to the courts of justice. A “no” vote will not amend the Missouri Constitution to levy costs and fees related to current or former sheriffs, prosecuting attorneys and circuit attorneys. If passed, this measure will have no impact on taxes. What happens if Amendment 6 fails? If it fails, the Missouri Sheriffs’ Retirement System predicts that its fund will be insolvent within nine years, said Melissa Lorts, executive director. “We feel like the $3 fee is really a user fee of the court system,” Lorts said. Sheriffs are responsible for bringing defendants to the courthouse from the jail, and they administer warrants and manage other aspects of a criminal case, she said. “So we have a heavy hand in what happens in the court system,” Lorts said. More than 200 former sheriffs or their surviving spouses currently receive benefits, Lorts said. The amendment traces back to two speeding tickets in Kansas City and the state supreme court ruling that followed. Two men admitted to the traffic violations in 2017, ultimately paying a total of $223.50 in fines and fees to the city’s municipal court. But the men later argued that they didn’t realize that $3 from each case would go toward the sheriffs’ retirement benefits. The two men led a class action filed with Jackson County Circuit Court, arguing that the extra charge was “unjust enrichment,” a violation of the state constitution. The case continued to wind through the courts until the Missouri Supreme Court ruled for the plaintiffs in 2021, Lorts said. The court’s decision cited a 1986 ruling, noting that it laid down “a bright-line rule” barring court fees that benefit executive officials that are not “reasonably related to the expense of the administration of justice.” The ruling in the traffic case cost the retirement system about $9 million in court costs and settlements and ended its ability to collect the money, Lorts said. In December 2023, the fund had $38.4 million in assets, a drop of $800,000 from the end of the previous calendar year, according to the Missouri Sheriffs’ Retirement System annual report. Beginning in January 2024, active sheriffs began contributing 5% of their salaries to the retirement fund, a change instituted by the legislature. The legislature also approved $2.5 million to help stabilize the fund, an amount that has been requested again in the coming fiscal year, Lorts said. What are the arguments against Amendment 6? Critics of the fees that Amendment 6 would allow say each county should pay for pensions and other costs related to law enforcement and the courts. The Washington, D.C.-based Fines and Fees Justice Center told lawmakers that the salaries and benefits for prosecutors and sheriffs should be adequately funded, but that court fees are an “ineffective and counterproductive” approach. “When fines and fees go unpaid, judges may issue arrest warrants for failing to pay, leading to law enforcement arresting people for not paying financial obligations — most often because they are too poor to pay,” testified Priya Sarathy Jones, deputy executive director at the Fines and Fees Justice Center. “The time spent on these debt collection and enforcement efforts diverts law enforcement and courts from their core responsibilities … In fact, the collection of fines and fees by law enforcement has been found to be associated with lower clearance rates for more serious crimes.” Some studies have shown that the cost to municipalities to collect fines and fees can exceed the revenue generated. The Missouri NAACP argued that the fees “create a negative incentive to give more tickets and charge unnecessary crimes.” Leonard Charles Gilroy, a vice president of the Reason Foundation in Los Angeles, wrote that changing the state constitution to allow the fees would violate “basics of public finance and fiscal stewardship.” Public pensions are constitutionally protected benefits, which are obligated to be paid in full regardless of market conditions or revenue generated. “Law enforcement and courts are core functions of government that should be funded through legislative appropriations, not fees,” Gilroy’s statement said. “It would be imprudent to revive a policy to fund pension contributions with dedicated fine/fee revenues because those revenues can fluctuate over time, while pension liabilities are always locked in.” Meanwhile, Amendment 6 came under fire for ballot summary language that the Missouri Court of Appeals Western District ruled was insufficient and unfair. The court clarified that passage of the measure by voters in the general election would enshrine a broader meaning of the administration of justice in the state constitution. That court reworded the ballot language voters will see to read: “Shall the Missouri Constitution be amended to provide that the administration of justice shall include the levying of costs and fees to support salaries and benefits for certain current and former law enforcement personnel?” This article first appeared on Beacon: Missouri and is republished here under a Creative Commons license. Missourians with disabilities and seniors could lose at-home care under new eligibility algorithmby Clara Bates, Missouri Independent Nearly 8,000 seniors and Missourians with disabilities could lose at-home care over the next year after a new eligibility algorithm went into effect this week, a spokesperson for the state health department told The Independent. Starting Oct. 1, Missouri’s Department of Health and Senior Services implemented a change in the scoring algorithm they use to determine eligibility during annual reviews and enrollment for those receiving help with everyday tasks like going to the bathroom, getting dressed and taking their prescriptions. The assistance is part of a Medicaid-funded program called home and community based services designed to provide an alternative to those who would otherwise need to receive institutional care. That change, according to the department, is designed to help ensure those who truly need the services receive them, and those who don’t — for instance, because their conditions have improved or they’re not severe enough to qualify — are removed. “We want to ensure those with higher acuity needs are receiving the care they need,” said DHSS spokesperson Lisa Cox. “That is what this transformation is about—to ensure we are providing the right services, in the right setting, at the right time to those who would go into a facility placement if not for [home and community based services].” But advocates are raising alarm that certain people who still need services will lose them, causing their health to decline or forcing them into institutional settings like nursing homes. Jennifer Gundy, who runs a center for independent living in southwest Missouri, which provides in-home care support for 370 people, estimates 18% of her clients will fall off the rolls. And most of them will still be in need of services, she said, including cases of those with severe diabetes, mobility issues, complicated medication regimes and other issues that are eased by current assistance but will worsen without it. “So that’s our concern,” she said. “And we’ve been voicing that concern with the state for probably the last two years,” she said. Joel Ferber, director of advocacy at Legal Services of Eastern Missouri, said there are “truly needy folks who are going to lose services.” Legal Services of Eastern Missouri has been working with national advocacy groups to analyze the new algorithm and its effects, and provide guidance. One client they identified, a 70-year-old woman who receives 40 hours of weekly paid help, won’t be eligible after her review, according to LSEM. She weighs under 100 pounds and has had a stroke. Without a caretaker, she won’t be able to make herself meals or bathe, and has no family in the area. She may have to be hospitalized or go to a nursing home. State Rep. Deb Lavender, a Democrat of Manchester, said thousands will lose services, “without any support from the state” to fill in the gap. “They’re going to be people who have received services for years,” she said, “and we have provided that for them — to then drop them because they don’t meet the new algorithm doesn’t seem right.” Cox said 7,818 people are at risk of losing services, but she didn’t provide an estimate of any possible net change, saying the program will “continue to add more participants every month due to the increase in needs of our population.” New people will also qualify based on the new algorithm, adding to the population, she said. From 2021 to last month, the department used both the new and old algorithm, so that anyone who qualified on either basis could qualify for the program. Cox said thousands of people have gained access to services under the new algorithm who wouldn’t have qualified on the old calculation: She said 7,708 people have gained eligibility under the new algorithm since it was introduced in Nov. 2021. There were around 68,000 people monthly on the program last fiscal year, Cox said. The new algorithm has been years in the making. The legislature in 2017 grew concerned with the home and community based services program “just blossoming” in participation and cost, said Jessica Schaefer, program director for home and community based services in a recent training. To cut the budget, the legislature in 2017 raised the threshold for eligibility. It also capped costs for services at a lower level. The program is jointly funded by the state and federal government, and states vary widely in how they run the programs. The department found those changes weren’t entirely effective, Schafer said — that some people who needed services most didn’t qualify anymore — so they launched a “transformation” of the eligibility criteria. It was designed to be more accurate at directing limited services to the correct people. The “transformation is about ensuring those most in need of care receive the services needed to remain independent in their community,” Cox said. There have been several delays in implementing the new algorithm — most recently because of federal rules tied to accepting American Rescue Plan Act funds. The state has generally characterized those who will lose coverage as people who don’t have needs significant enough to qualify in the first place. In a slideshow for providers during a recent training, the state recommended when delivering the news of ineligibility to individuals, that they “exude confidence” and “put a positive spin on ineligibility,” along with connecting them to other resources and expressing sympathy. Because the department has been providing two scores, advocates can see which clients will not qualify under the new algorithm and have been able to track it. Advocates say they’ve repeatedly brought up concerns with the state based on clients they see are desperately in need of services who will no longer qualify. “The only thing that we can do is just go ahead and allow them to do this, and then if there’s enough people that fall off the services and end up going to the nursing home, going in the hospital, having lots of problems because they’re not getting the services, then we can look at doing a class action lawsuit,” said Gundy, the southwest Missouri advocate. “Which is really sad, because those people have to get hurt or have really bad health problems for something to get done.” States across the country have made similar cuts to the program, based on automated decisions, including in Arkansas, where the algorithm was successfully challenged in court. Legal Services of Eastern Missouri and a group of national advocates published a toolkit for providers and participants to understand the changes and track those who lose services. Emily Paul, project director at Upturn, a national organization that advocates for equity and justice in technology, has been involved in that analysis. “What we understand in general is that automation is a tool that states are using to deal with inadequate funding for these programs, and to create a rationale for who doesn’t get services,” Paul said. “Underfunding really drives the need to have this whole rationale for trying to distribute the resources and trying to make claims to fairness and objectivity within a system that is not really set up to actually meet people’s needs,” she said. “And so that’s the fundamental issue. States can still try to make better or worse choices about how they allocate the resources.” This story was updated at 9:10 A.M. with additional comment from the Department of Health and Senior Services. GET THE MORNING HEADLINES.
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Missouri Independent is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Missouri Independent maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Jason Hancock for questions: [email protected]. Follow Missouri Independent on Facebook and X. |
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