S.C. Medicaid Applications Backlogged

South Carolina Medicaid officials are working to process thousands of applications backlogged through the federal online marketplace.

As of Aug. 1, the state Department of Health and Human Services had reviewed 60 percent of the 38,000 applications the federal government began transferring in mid-February. Of those, 13,000 await more information from the applicant.

Deputy director John Supra says the agency should be caught up within a couple of weeks. Six temporary employees hired since July 1 are helping determine applicants' eligibility. Of the decisions made so far, 56 percent are approvals. Many others who applied were already enrolled.

The applications date to Oct. 1, when the problem-riddled federal website went live. The state agency has yet to receive an estimated 5,000 to 6,000 applications filled out through the federal site.