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Missouri House panel OKs added funds for Medicaid drug costs

The capitol building in Jefferson City
j. stephenconn
/
Flickr
The capitol building in Jefferson City

  Despite concerns from Republican lawmakers about Democratic Gov. Jay Nixon's withholding money from programs this year, most of his 2015 supplemental budget request is moving forward.

A Missouri House panel on Tuesday approved additional spending for 2015, including $120 million in general funds.

Republican lawmakers have previously criticized the request while the governor's office continues to withhold about $451 million from other priorities this year.

State budget director Linda Luebbering says the additional money is for bills that have to be paid.

About $82 million of that is for increased costs in the state's Medicaid pharmacy program, primarily from the high cost of providing new Hepatitis C drug Sovaldi.

The measure must be approved by the full House before going to the Senate.

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