medicaid

Health care reform put on hold as lawmakers wrap up session

Jennifer Davidson — Thu, 16 May 2013 22:30:31 +0000

Rain is drizzling on the roughly 40 people standing in line outside the Good Samaritan Care Clinic in rural Mountain View, Missouri. Some have been standing for hours. At 5:30 pm, the clinic doors swing open, and the patients flood into a clean, bare bones waiting room.

Missouri's Medicaid Director leaves

Elana Gordon — Thu, 16 May 2013 15:31:06 +0000

The director of Missouri’s Medicaid program, Dr. Ian McCaslin, has left.

Medical Malpractice Cap Restoration Bill May Not Survive 2013 Session

Marshall Griffin — Wed, 01 May 2013 18:25:37 +0000

Efforts in Missouri to restore caps on non-economic damages in medical malpractice lawsuits are in limbo.

The Missouri Supreme Court ruled last year that the state’s $350,000 cap was unconstitutional and by design denied injured patients the right to a jury trial. House Bill 112, passed by the Missouri House back in March, would restore the cap while placing the right to sue in written state statut

Mo. House votes to look at Medicaid expansion next year

Associated Press — Tue, 30 Apr 2013 22:42:41 +0000

After declining to expand Medicaid coverage this year, the Missouri House has passed a bill that would create a committee to study the issue next year.

The House passed the measure 133-27 yesterday. It would create a joint committee of House and Senate members to look at ways to "transform" the state's Medicaid program. The committee would begin at the end of the current session until the 2015 session's start in January.

Alternate Medicaid Proposal Dead For 2013 Mo. Regular Session

Marshall Griffin — Thu, 25 Apr 2013 13:51:28 +0000

An alternate Medicaid expansion bill that contained some reforms sought by Missouri House Republicans is all but dead this year.

House Bill 700 would have expanded Medicaid to 180,000 Missourians, removed 44,000 children from the Medicaid rolls, allowed private insurers to compete to cover Medicaid recipients, and offered cash bonuses to motivate recipients to stay healthy. The sponsor, Missouri House committee has passed the Republicans’ alternative to the Medicaid expansion being sought by Democratic Governor Jay Nixon.

The House Committee on Government Oversight and Accountability voted Wednesday evening to pass House Bill 700 on a 7-2 vote. The measure would expand coverage to 180,000 Missourians while removing 44,000 children from the Medicaid rolls. The sponsor, State Rep

Mo. Gov. Nixon open to Medicaid alternative

Associated Press — Thu, 28 Mar 2013 20:09:15 +0000

Missouri Gov. Jay Nixon is continuing to push for a Medicaid expansion, but he's open to alternatives that could use federal money to buy private insurance for lower-income adults.

Mo. Medicaid expansion still lacks rural legislative support

Harum Helmy and Jennifer Davidson — Wed, 27 Feb 2013 17:30:00 +0000

This week -- we’re hearing about the Medicaid expansion debate down in West Plains -- the seat of rural Howell County. A study by the Missouri Budget Project shows that Medicaid expansion would have its most dramatic impact in the state’s rural areas.