JEFFERSON CITY – On Tuesday (3-31), State Sen. Paul LeVota, D-Independence, offered an amendment to State Sen. Kurt Schaefer’s, R-Columbia, Senate Bill 210 in an effort to expand Medicaid eligibility requirements for the state of Missouri.
Earlier this year, Sen. LeVota filed legislation calling for Medicaid expansion for the third consecutive year, which was met with staunch opposition.
Throughout this legislative session, the General Assembly has seen numerous Missourians from all over the state line the halls of the Capitol asking their lawmakers to have the debate on Medicaid expansion. The debate finally began this year. However, as numerous Senators offered their voice on the controversial issue, the debate was short-lived as the amendment was not adopted.
“We hear nothing but complaints of growth and problems in the current system. Yet we wait for reform,” said Sen. LeVota. “There are so many excuses on why we are not doing this version of Medicaid expansion or another, and I think the people are waiting for us to be leaders and come up with a solution. This is our opportunity to move forward and do the right thing for our state.”
Within the last two years, 74 hospitals, including veterans and psychiatric hospitals, have closed due to Missouri’s failure to expand its Medicaid program. The expansion would cover numerous citizens that are currently receiving medical care while uninsured, allow Missouri to access billions of federal funds and save the lives of 700 Missourians annually.
“This is good for hospitals. They are responsible for the health of our citizens in the rural and urban areas. It is what they do,” said Sen. LeVota. “I am once again disappointed to see many of my colleagues excuse the importance of Medicaid expansion in Missouri. We pay for our federal tax dollars, why not use them? We need to pass a Missouri solution for our healthcare crisis.”
If Missouri was to expand Medicaid, 300,000 additional Missourians would be eligible to receive healthcare. Missouri could retain its federal dollars, and improve the health and lives of thousands of Missourians across the state.
For more information on Sen. LeVota’s legislative efforts, click here or visit his Senate website at www.senate.mo.gov/levota. |
