The Senate gave initial approval on Thursday on a bill renewing taxes on medical providers that funds Missouri’s Medicaid program. The vote came around 3:30 am after members of the Senate Freedom Caucus ended their 41-hour filibuster of the bill. The bill must now go to the House for debate and approval.
The federal reimbursement allowance (FRA) brings in around $4.5 billion a year to hospitals, nursing homes, pharmacies, and ambulance services. While the General Assembly has traditionally renewed the tax without issue, in recent years some groups have tried to tie FRA passage with language defunding Planned Parenthood, as the FRA is seen as a must-pass piece of legislation.
While the General Assembly sent a separate bill to defund Planned Parenthood to Governor Parson already this year, the Senate Freedom Caucus stated its intent to hold up the FRA renewal until Parson signed the bill. Freedom Caucus members also called on Republican leadership to pass initiative petition reform before the FRA. Neither demand was ultimately met.
The filibuster also means that legislators have a short deadline to finalize the state budget for the next fiscal year. The Senate must pass its version of the budget and then work out differences with the House. Legislators have until next Friday, May 10, to pass the budget.
You can read more about the FRA renewal here.