Frequently Asked Questions

How can I obtain a birth/death certificate?
How do I obtain a birth certificate from earlier than 1910?
Where do I report a complaint against a hospital, physician, nursing home,
   restaurant, child care center?
Who do I notify to renew my BNDD registration?
How do I go about ordering literature from your department?
Does your department offer loans for college students and if so, how do
   I go about applying for them?
Where do I go to receive a copy of my immunization records?
I received a bill from my doctor/hospital. Why isn't Medicare paying
   for this bill?
How do I sign up for WIC?
I am looking for affordable health insurance. Who do I contact?
What is the process of opening a day care center in my home?
What can I do about the mold in my apartment?

More Frequently Asked Questions...

How do I obtain a birth certificate from earlier than 1910?
Although it wasn't a law until 1910 that all birth and death records be registered in the state, Missouri Bureau of Vital Records does have some birth and death records prior to 1910. The same process applies as ordering records for events occurring after 1910. For events prior to 1910 where no record is registered, the customer should contact the Missouri State Archives to see what years they have available. Their telephone number is 573-751-3280.

Where do I report a complaint against a hospital, physician, nursing home, restaurant, child care center?
For a complaint against a hospital, contact the Bureau of Health Services Regulation, PO Box 570, Jefferson City, Missouri 65102; 573-751-6303 or info@dhss.mo.gov.

For a complaint against a physician, contact the Office of Professional Registration, PO Box 1335, Jefferson City, Missouri 65102; 573-751-0293 or profreg@pr.mo.gov.

For a complaint against a nursing home, contact the Elder Abuse & Neglect Hotline, PO Box 570, Jefferson City, Missouri 65102; 800-392-0210 or info@dhss.mo.gov.

For a complaint against a restaurant, contact the Bureau of Environmental Regulations and Licensure, PO Box 570, Jefferson City, Missouri 65102; 573-751-6090 or info@dhss.mo.gov.

For a complaint against a child care center, contact the Bureau of Child Care, PO Box 570, Jefferson City, Missouri 65102; 573-751-2450 or info@dhss.mo.gov.

Who do I notify to renew my BNDD registration?
The Department of Health and Senior Services' Bureau of Narcotics and Dangerous Drugs (BNDD) is responsible for issuing BNDD registrations. To contact them, call 573-751-6321 or e-mail your request to info@dhss.mo.gov. An application for BNDD registration may be downloaded and printed from the BNDD website at http://www.dhss.mo.gov/BNDD.

How do I go about ordering literature from your department?
To order literature from Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services, go online at http://www.dhss.mo.gov/warehouse/e-literature.html. This will give you a complete list of our literature and guide you to the steps necessary to complete an order form and send your request to the department's warehouse.

Does your department offer loans for college students and if so, how do I go about applying for them?
Yes, our department offers health professional loans for undergraduate, graduate and post-graduate training that may be forgiven, or written off, in exchange for service in an underserved area. Applications can be obtained by downloading them from our website (Health Professional Student Loan Universal Application) or by calling our office at 800-891-7415.

Where do I go to receive a copy of my immunization records?
There are a number of sources that may have an individual's immunization records, but the best way to have access to those records is to keep a copy of your own record and your children's records. If you received your immunizations at a local health department, your records will probably be on file there. Your doctor's office may also have your records. Schools and child care facilities require proof of immunizations and are another good source of information. The Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services maintains an immunization registry. Staff members who work with immunizations will gladly look up records for people with a need to know this information. However, participation in this system is voluntary. Most Missourians are not in the system, and most of the people in the system are young children. No agency or professional is required to keep these records, so it is always best to keep your own record in a safe place.

I received a bill from my doctor/hospital. Why isn't Medicare paying for this bill?
Medicare is a federal program run by the federal government; therefore the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services would suggest that you direct your Medicare questions to their toll-free number at 1-800-MEDICARE or 1-800-633-4227. Or to receive information on Medicare rights and protections and/or help in appealing a Medicare billing determination, you can call the CLAIM program at 1-800-390-3330.

How do I sign up for WIC?
To be certified to participate in the WIC Program, individuals should visit their nearest WIC agency. To locate an agency nearest you go to http://www.dhss.mo.gov/wic/locations.html or call 1-800-TEL-LINK.

I am looking for affordable health insurance. Who do I contact?
For insurance questions or consumer complaints, contact the Department of Insurance at PO Box 690, Jefferson City, Missouri 65102; 573-751-4126 or toll free 1-800-726-7390. Hearing impaired customers can call their TDD line at 573-526-4536. For more information about the Department of Insurance visit http://www.insurance.mo.gov.

What is the process of opening a day care center in my home?
The Bureau of Child Care (BCC) maintains a website that contains copies of the current licensing rules, frequently asked questions and has a subsection that is titled "How do I get licensed?" You can access the site at http://www.dhss.mo.gov/ChildCare/index.html.

What can I do about the mold in my apartment?
The first step to correcting and preventing mold problems in any building is to control the moisture. A mold problem in an apartment is a symptom of a water problem in the apartment or in the entire building. Leaking roofs, leaky windows or basements, and plumbing problems can all lead to excessive moisture and mold in an apartment. Water problems should be reported to the apartment manager/owner for resolution. If the owner is reluctant to resolve the problem, contact your city or county building inspector or health department for assistance. Depending on where you live, they may have the authority to require your landlord to make repairs. The Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services does not have statutory authority to force landlords to make repairs. Copies of the Missouri Landlord-Tenant Law and a pamphlet explaining your rights under this law can be obtained from the Missouri Attorney General's Office at www.ago.mo.gov or 573-751-3321.