JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) — Missouri's health department has been forced to hire temporary workers and enlist state employees to help a private business facing complaints about its poor screening of Medicaid patients.

Officials with the state Department of Health and Senior Services say they had to hire 13 temporary workers and shift as many as 20 state workers from their regular jobs after withering consumer complaints against SynCare LLC of Indiana.

The Indianapolis-based company won a contract worth up to $5.5 million annually to determine whether thousands of Missouri Medicaid recipients qualify for home-based medical services or help with daily chores. The company has received $1.3 million since the contract took effect in mid-May.

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SynCare CEO Stephanie DeKemper said that while the company has fallen short of its standards, the state also shares responsibility.

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