RSMo 208.151 (1982) sets forth the legal basis for Title XIX coverage.
The claimant’s eligibility for Medicaid coverage begins with the first day of the month of application, provided the claimant is subsequently found eligible, and was not obviously ineligible for the entire month of application and any subsequent month prior to approval. If the claimant was obviously ineligible for the entire month of application and any subsequent months prior to approval, the Medicaid eligibility date begins with the first day of the month in which eligibility was met.