Budget Committee Hears Bill Proposing Changes to Medicaid

On Wednesday, the Budget Committee of the House heard a bill that would send to the voters a constitutional amendment making changes to eligibility and imposing work requirements for MO HeathNet (Medicaid). The bill would make eligibility for the Medicaid expansion population subject to appropriation by the General Assembly. The bill would also establish work and community engagement requirements for participants in Medicaid who are older than 19 and under 65. Finally, it would deny health care providers payment for services to non-residents. If passed by the voters, this amendment would effectively cancel the provisions passed by the voters in August 2020 when they expanded Medicaid.

The Missouri Catholic Conference was among the many organizations that testified in opposition to the bill. Opponents argued that most Medicaid recipients already work or have a legitimate reason for staying home. Others stated that the bureaucracy of checking work requirements would result in lapses of health care for participants. The committee took no action on the bill.