Senate Interim Committee Issues Recommendations Regarding the Public Funding of Abortion Providers

The Missouri Senate Interim Committee on Medicaid Accountability and Taxpayer Protection issued its first report detailing recommendations related to the funding of abortion providers and their affiliates through Missouri's Medicaid program, MO HealthNet. The committee was established by the Senate President Pro Tem, Dave Schatz, to ensure that Missouri tax dollars "are spent in accordance with the values of Missourians." The committee held three public hearings throughout the summer.

The committee suggested regulatory changes within the Department of Health and Senior Services (DHSS) and the Department of Social Services (DSS) to allow both departments to collaborate and share information uncovered during investigations of abortion facilities. The committee also recommended changes to state law to provide DSS with the ability to consider the behavior of a MO HealthNet provider in another state as grounds for sanctions or termination if the behavior would disqualify the provider from serving as a MO HealthNet provider in Missouri. 

The committee is expected to release a second report outlining other MO HealthNet reforms later in the year.