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Missouri to Receive $54 Million in Disaster Relief
ST. LOUIS, MO, (SLFP.com), January 22, 2012 - U.S. Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Secretary Shaun Donovan has allocated $400 million in emergency aid to help communities in eight states to recover from presidentially declared natural disasters in 2011.
Provided through HUD's Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Program, these grants will support long-term disaster recovery efforts in areas with the greatest extent of 'unmet need.'
The State of Missouri will receive $8,719,059, at least 80 percent of which will support long-term recovery activities in Jasper County following last spring's severe storms, tornadoes and flooding. In addition, the City of Joplin will receive $45,266,709 directly from HUD to support its efforts to recover from last year's devastating tornado.
"Last year, I personally saw the extent of the destruction left behind by several of these disasters, the hardship these communities are feeling, and the work that lies ahead," said Donovan. "These funds will supplement other forms of disaster assistance to put these states and local areas on the path toward long-term recovery."
On November 18, 2011, Congress appropriated $100 million in CDBG funds to support long-term disaster recovery throughout the nation. At that same time, Congress gave HUD the authority to allocate up to $300 million in additional CDBG funds to assist "the most impacted and distressed areas" in the wake of last year's disasters. Donovan elected to exercise HUD's full authority by targeting the maximum amount of CDBG funding allowed toward helping these states and local areas.
These funds are intended to confront unmet housing, business and infrastructure needs beyond those addressed by other forms of public and private assistance. Using a combination of federal data from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the Small Business Administration (SBA), HUD identified those states and local communities most impacted and requiring the greatest assistance to recover due to the devastating tornadoes in the Southeast and Missouri; the remnants of Hurricanes Irene and Lee in the Northeast and New England; severe flooding in parts of North Dakota; and destructive wildfires in Texas.
MO Medicaid Fraud Unit Collected More than $20 Million
JEFFERSON CITY, MO, (SLFP.com), January 22, 2012 - Attorney General Chris Koster said his office collected more than $20 million and took action against 26 providers for Medicaid fraud in 2011. In the past three years, the Attorney General's Office has collected almost $150 million in Medicaid fraud recoveries.
Koster's Medicaid Fraud Control Unit is a national leader in cost-effectiveness. According to the latest available data from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the Missouri Medicaid Fraud Control Unit collected more than $31.00 for each dollar spent in federal fiscal year 2010, the highest ratio in the nation. In the previous two years, Missouri was No. 2 in the nation in recoveries per grant dollar.
According to Koster, last year his office:
Resolved criminal matters regarding 11 medical and home health care providers. Two individuals are currently serving prison time, and seven others will serve prison time if they do not meet all the terms of their probation. In the other two cases, the Attorney General's Office was able to negotiate settlements with the individuals.
Resolved civil cases against 15 providers, including Beverly Hills Pharmacy in St. Louis, which was found to have routinely submitted unlawful claims to the Medicaid program. Beverly Hills Pharmacy paid the state $500,000 in a settlement.
"My office is committed to aggressively pursuing medical and home health care providers who are stealing from the taxpayers of Missouri by committing Medicaid fraud," Koster said. "Our criminal prosecutions and our recoveries of large sums of money serve as a warning to providers who would consider submitting false bills to Medicaid: we are watching, and you will not get away with it."
Koster's office also takes action against individuals who abuse Medicaid recipients. The office filed criminal charges against Christopher Mayo, who pleaded guilty last May to having physically abused a Medicaid recipient residing in a Marion County skilled nursing facility. Mayo is now serving five years in prison.
Ameren Missouri Files Largest Plan in State for Energy Efficiency Programs
ST. LOUIS, MO, (SLFP.com), January 22, 2012 - Ameren Missouri, a subsidiary of Ameren Corporation, has filed with the Missouri Public Service Commission (MPSC) a three-year plan that includes an aggressive portfolio of energy efficiency programs, the largest such plan in the state of Missouri.
The expenditures for the new programs will be approximately twice the size of the utility company's previous energy efficiency programs. The proposal is Ameren Missouri's first request for approval of new and expanded energy efficiency programs under the Missouri Energy Efficiency Investment Act (MEEIA).
MEEIA represents a shift in energy policy towards partnering with customers to use energy more efficiently to meet future needs. Additionally, it provides clear objectives for the state of Missouri to pursue cost-effective energy efficiency programs, while requiring the programs be designed to ensure utilities' financial incentives are aligned with helping customers use energy more efficiently.
"As utilities implement cost-effective energy efficiency programs under MEEIA it is a win-win for both customers and the utility companies," explained State Senator Brad Lager, sponsor of the MEEIA legislation. "Customers will benefit from the savings, and utilities will be appropriately reimbursed for the costs of the energy efficiency programs."
The programs include energy efficiency investments of approximately $145 million over three years, beginning early January 2013. These investments are expected to result in approximately $500 million in total customer benefits over the next 20 years. Annual energy savings are expected to be nearly 800 million kilowatthours, which is equal to the energy consumption of more than 60,000 average Missouri homes annually.
Costs and related incentives associated with this program will be reimbursed to Ameren Missouri over the next three to five years.
"Our proposed energy efficiency programs continue the significant commitment we have made to energy efficiency programs in the past," sais Warner L. Baxter, chairman, president and CEO of Ameren Missouri. "Since 2009, we have spent more than $70 million on energy efficiency programs resulting in more than 550 million kilowatthours saved, which is equal to the energy consumed by more than 42,000 average homes annually. Our current proposal will result in additional significant long-term."
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