USCRI in Missouri

Under the federal regulations at 45 CFR 400.107, the Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR) approved and appointed U.S. Committee for Refugees and Immigrants (USCRI) as the Medical Replacement Designee (MRD) in Missouri on May 1, 2018. As the MRD, USCRI is responsible for administering the federally funded Refugee Medical Assistance (RMA) and Refugee Medical Screening (RMS) programs in the state. Individuals eligible for RMA and RMS in Missouri include those federally recognized as refugees, asylees, Cuban/Haitian Entrants, Special Immigrant Visa holders, and Victims of Trafficking.

Refugee Medical Assistance (RMA)

Access to healthcare and coverage under health insurance are vital to ensuring successful resettlement. Refugee Medical Assistance (RMA) provides short-term health insurance to refugees and other eligible individuals who do not qualify for Medicaid in Missouri.

While RMA includes the same medical, dental, and pharmacy benefits as Medicaid it differs from the Medicaid program because it is limited to eight months of health care coverage from the date of arrival in the U.S. or the date status was granted. An individual must be ineligible for Medicaid and meet RMA eligibility requirements to be enrolled.

USCRI contracts with a third-party administrator named Point Comfort Underwriters (PCU) to provide services under RMA. All enrollees receive an identification card like the one pictured below. Enrollees should present the card when visiting a healthcare provider like they would provide any other insurance identification card. There are no copays and healthcare providers are reimbursed through contracts with PCU or through single case agreements. RMA enrollees can be seen by healthcare providers not contracted with PCU, and PCU will process the subsequent claims.

USCRI works in partnership with local resettlement agencies to enroll and assist refugees and other RMA eligible individuals as they navigate the healthcare system. If you have questions about how to apply for RMA, please contact the USCRI Regional Refugee Health Officer in your area:

Refugee Medical Screening

Promoting health is a crucial part of resettlement and USCRI helps refugees and other eligible individuals lay a solid foundation for a healthy start through its Refugee Medical Screening (RMS) program. The purpose of the RMS Program is to ensure well-coordinated follow-up for medical issues identified in the overseas medical screening; identify persons with diseases of potential public health importance; and enable refugees or other program-eligible individuals to successfully resettle by identifying personal health conditions that, if left unidentified, could adversely impact his or her ability to resettle.

Through the RMS Program refugees and other eligible individuals get a comprehensive medical screening early in the resettlement process. The Office of Refugee Resettlement and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention provide guidance on how the medical screening (also called the domestic medical examination) should be conducted.

The medical screening includes a health history, a physical exam, laboratory tests, and preventive health interventions including immunizations. When necessary, medication may be provided or prescribed, and additional referrals may be made as well. USCRI partners with local resettlement agencies, federally qualified health centers, and local public health agencies to coordinate the RMS Program. Local resettlement agencies assist individuals in scheduling medical screening appointments with the following local providers:

• City of St. Louis Department of Health
• Affinia Healthcare in St. Louis City
• Columbia/Boone County Department of Public Health and Human Services
• Samuel U. Rodgers Health Center in Kansas City
• Jordan Valley Community Health Center in Springfield City

The vast majority of RMS-eligible individuals are covered by Medicaid, while a small percentage are covered by Refugee Medical Assistance (RMA), and an even smaller percentage will not have health insurance. For this small percentage of uninsured, RMS-eligible individuals, USCRI covers the costs associated with their medical screening.

As the Medical Replacement Designee (MRD) in Missouri, USCRI is charged with establishing statewide policy to guide implementation partners in the administration of the RMS Program. To better understand the program, you can review USCRI’s RMS Program Provider Guide. Also available are the Trimester Programmatic Report and the RMS Assessment Form.

Learn more about Refugee Medical Screening.