State Representative Donna Lichtenegger is currently serving the 146th District of the Missouri House of Representative. Born July 26, 1950, in St. Louis, MO. A 1969 graduate of Normandy High School. She received an A.S. in Dental Hygiene in 1973 from St. Louis Community College -- Forest Park. Rep. Lichtenegger has 37 years of experience as a dental hygienist. She resides in Jackson with her husband, John. They have two children, Brent and Leigh Ann. Current and past memberships: Missouri Dental Hygiene Association; American Dental Hygienist Association; Southeast Missouri Dental Hygienist Association. St. Paul Lutheran Church -- Ladies Guild; Jackson Noon Optimist Club; Cape Girardeau Boys and Girls Club, board member; Cape County Black and Gold Club; Lutherans For Life; University of Missouri Alumni Association; and the Regional Samaritan Clinic, board member; and former memberships with JC Wives and the Lutheran Family Children Services' Cape Girardeau board. Public Service: 20 years Republican Central Committee; the Republican State Committeewoman from 1998 to 2010 for the 25th Senatorial District; Chair of the 32nd Judicial District for six years; ten years Chair for the Eighth Congressional District.

State Medicaid Oversight

Posted Friday, September 19, 2014, at 10:15 AM

Since April 2014 my office has received an inordinate amount of phone calls from constituents who's MO HealthNet (Medicaid) had been suddenly canceled and/or they were unable to speak with a person or even getting through the call center. We knew there was a serious situation when the SEMO Area Agency on Aging couldn't even get through!

Following several one-on-one meetings with Department of Social Services (DSS) personnel, the situation came to light that about 18 months ago DSS restructured the Family Support Division (FSD). This restructuring included new computer software and closing regional offices throughout the state and hiring a call-center company in Mississippi to handle beneficiaries' and new MO HealthNet applicants' calls. The efficacy of this restructuring deteriorated as the backlog in processing increased. The backlog is resulting in Medicaid cancelation-letters being mailed out to those in need.

The House Budget and Appropriations-Social Services, Mental Health and Health Committees continue to hold several joint meetings to address this situation and affect a turn-around.

If you or someone you know is experiencing a long-wait time on a new application or an unexpected cancelation pleases call my Capitol office in Jefferson City, 573-751-6662, and my assistant will work with you to get the issue resolved.

Constituent Corner:

Don't let your kids or grandkids miss the September 20, Day on the River at Riverfront Park, sponsored by the Missouri Department of Conservation. For more information and to watch a video, link here to the Cape Girardeau Convention Center's website: http://www.visitcape.com/blog/great-outdoors/2014/honeybees-two-headed-snakes-in...

If you are a news aficionado or just need a night out to hear about world events, I'd liked to recommend you attend the Southeast Missouri State University's Speaker Series to hear journalist Anderson Cooper. http://www.visitcape.com/CalendarDetail.aspx?CalendarID=6094&utm_source=Septembe... He will be at the Show-Me Center, September 21, at 3 p.m. He is the host of CNN's Anderson Cooper 360⁰. I obviously don't agree with all Mr. Cooper's political assessments; however, his reporting is stimulating, and the cost is only $10.

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