Planned Parenthood Advocates in Missouri Celebrates Medicaid Expansion

This victory is a direct rebuke to Gov. Parson and his anti-health care agenda

ST. LOUIS - Planned Parenthood Advocates in Missouri (PPMO) celebrates the passage of Amendment 2 to expand Medicaid to 230,000 Missourians. Over the past year, PPMO has worked in coalition on a strategic electoral program to activate voters and mobilize our robust supporter base. While data is still coming in, PPMO’s work included at least:

• 685 voter contact hours over the course of 246 shifts

• 44,900 calls and 103,738 texts to voters this summer

• 3,631 supportive voters identified, educated, and helped with a vote plan

• 61,942 pieces of mail sent to voters

• 4,550 signatures collected to qualify Amendment 2 for the ballot 

• 288,500 total voter contacts for Amendment 2, and

• Four educational teach-ins and free ballot notarization

Statement from M’Evie Mead, Director of Policy and Organizing, Planned Parenthood Advocates in Missouri: 

“After years of demanding more from our elected leaders, Missourians took matters into our own hands by voting to expand Medicaid and deliver critical health care coverage to thousands in our state. 

“For nearly a decade, unaccountable politicians like Gov. Parson have ignored our demands for justice and affordable health care. They have denied Missourians health care and viciously attacked Missourians’ reproductive freedom. By refusing to expand Medicaid, they have refused to invest in our communities, create better-paying jobs for workers, and make health care more accessible for Black and Brown communities — the same communities who already face systemic barriers within our health care system. Instead, Gov. Parson has spent years trying to score political points by passing senseless anti-abortion policies.

“Today, Missouri voters rejected Gov. Mike Parson’s anti-health care agenda that left too many people behind. Today, we chose to unite and protect our communities from the worst of the pandemic. Today, Missouri voters set a better course for our state, sending a clear message: We all deserve access to affordable health care — regardless of who we are or where we live.”

Nationally, one in five women rely on Medicaid for reproductive health care. Medicaid Expansion will provide coverage for the services women and families depend on, from birth control and family planning to life-saving cancer screenings and pregnancy care.

In addition to passing Medicaid Expansion, PPMO is proud that many of our endorsed candidates won, including St. Louis Circuit Attorney Kim Gardner, St. Louis Treasurer Tishaura Jones, and Lieutenant Governor nominee Alissia Canady.

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