12/21/2022 - Jefferson City, Mo.
The latest monthly
reports from State Auditor Nicole Galloway detailing state government's use of federal
stimulus dollars intended for the COVID-19 response shows Missouri received $11.83
billion between April 2020 and November 2022. As the state's financial
watchdog, the State Auditor's Office has issued the reports since June 2020
examining Missouri government's distribution and spending of funding received under
the federal CARES Act, American Rescue Plan and other federal assistance
programs.
The most
recent reports show Missouri's spending of federal assistance for the month of November
2022, as well as the cumulative expenditures since the state began receiving
funding in April 2020. Through the end of November 2022, the state has spent $6.47
billion in funding made available by the CARES Act and other federal programs,
and $2.35 billion in American Rescue Plan funds.
A significant portion of expenditures to date
are for services through the state's Medicaid program (MO HealthNet) and other
programs receiving federal matching funds. Under the Families First Coronavirus
Response Act, the federal government increased its percentage share of the cost
of the state's Medicaid program. The American Rescue Plan also offered Missouri
a temporary increase in the federal funds matching rate in exchange for the
state's Medicaid expansion. As of Nov. 30, 2022, the increased cost share for
the federal government has totaled over $2.07 billion in additional federal
funding for Medicaid in Missouri.
Other funding has been provided to local
governments, schools, institutions of higher education, child care providers,
long-term care facilities and developmental disabilities waiver providers.
Funds have also been used for mental health services, purchase of personal
protective equipment, virus testing, contact tracing, vaccine
preparedness and access, workforce
development, economic development programs for small businesses, COVID-19
dedicated personnel costs, emergency rental assistance and other disaster relief purposes.
In addition
to the monthly report examining the state's spending, the Auditor's Office also
has an online tool to give Missourians a detailed look at expenditures. The COVID-19 Response page tracks not
only how much is received and expended in relief funds, but also lists which
state and local government departments, vendors and expense categories are
receiving the most funding. The information on the website provides data on
expenditures and is updated regularly.
Auditor
Galloway's efforts are similar to work performed by the previous State Auditor's administration, which reviewed the state's use of
funds received through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. Under
Article IV, Section 13 of the
Missouri Constitution, the State Auditor has a duty to ensure the accuracy of
the state's accounting of its spending.
A copy of
the report on Missouri spending of federal CARES Act assistance in November
2022 can be found here. The report for American Rescue Plan
spending for November 2022 is here.