Missouri Voters Support Restoring Medicaid Cuts

March 13, 2007, JEFFERSON CITY, MO – According to a survey released on February 28, 2007 by the Lake Research Partners a majority of Missouri voters support restoring the cuts to Medicaid even if it meant a small tax increase.

The survey, commissioned by the Missouri Foundation for Health, was conducted by The Tarrance Group, one of the largest polling firms in the country. The Republican National Committee is the polling firm’s leading political client.

Seventy-five percent of voters surveyed supported restoring the cuts to Medicaid. Support for the restoration of Medicaid coverage crossed party lines. When voters were surveyed on what to do with the current surplus state revenues the top choice was restoring the Medicaid cuts and expanding the program.

Instead of using some of the current state revenue surplus of $516 million dollars to restore Medicaid coverage and other services to poor and vulnerable citizens, legislation passed by the House of Representatives and pending in the Senate cuts state taxes, including eliminating taxes on Social Security benefits for wealthier citizens. Current state law does not tax Social Security benefits of lower income seniors and 72% of those who currently receive Social Security benefits would not be affected.

According to the survey 87 percent of Missouri voters said they were concerned about health coverage for uninsured or underinsured Missourians. Eighty-six percent of those surveyed cited the importance of the government offering health care insurance to the uninsured or underinsured, giving highest priority to seniors and families on fixed incomes and children.

Approximately 100,000 people lost health care coverage due to the 2005 legislative cuts. Many working parents lost health coverage when the legislature reduced Medicaid eligibility to 22% of the federal poverty level. This means that a family of three can earn no more than $3,622 per year to receive health coverage.

“This survey shows that voters are very concerned with health coverage for Missouri’s poor and economically vulnerable citizens,” said Deacon Larry Weber, Executive Director and General Counsel of the Missouri Catholic Conference. “The results of the survey crosses party lines and shows that voters are concerned about what their elected officials are doing with regards to Medicaid and health insurance for the uninsured and underinsured.” Weber said.

The Missouri Catholic Conference (MCC) opposed the Medicaid cuts in 2005 and, as part of it’s public policy agenda, supports the restoration of Medicaid coverage. The MCC supports SB 581, sponsored by Sen. Wes Shoemyer (D-Clarence), which seeks to restore Medicaid coverage to the level it was at prior to the 2005 cuts. The MCC also supports HB 72, sponsored by Rep. Judy Baker (D-Columbia), and HB 424, sponsored by Rep. James Whorton (D-Trenton), which also seek to restore the cuts made to Medicaid.

The Missouri Foundation for Health employed the Lake Research Partners, one of the nation’s leading public opinion research firms, and the Tarrance Group to conduct the survey. The Missouri Foundation for Health was established in 2000 and is the largest non-governmental funder of community health activities in Missouri.