SB 28
Eviscerating Medicaid
SB 28 - Sen. Sater, Cassville (R-29)
Medicaid is an essential source of health care for Missouri women, men, and young people. Senate Bill 28 would drastically cut Medicaid funding and services.
MO HealthNet — Missouri's Medicaid program — is an essential source of health care for Missouri women.
- Medicaid is a vital source of health care coverage for women of all ages.
- Medicaid provides critical preventive and primary reproductive health care services to low-income women, including birth control, sexually transmitted infection (STI) testing and treatment, cancer screenings, pelvic exams, and pre- and post-natal care.
Senate Bill 28 and similar proposals would eviscerate Medicaid services and funding.
- Medicaid is federal-state partnership that currently covers 900,000 Missourians.
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Senate Bill 28 would have the state take federal funds for Medicaid services as a block grant — a set, capped amount of money.
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A “block grant” is just another way to say “a cut to Missouri’s Medicaid funding and services.
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While Medicaid’s current financing structure is nimble and can respond to the economy or changing demographics, SB 28 leaves thousands of Missourians vulnerable to dramatic health care cuts and puts Missouri at financial risk.
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If the Legislature is seeking flexibility to try new things with Medicaid, the new administration has said it will prioritize state Medicaid flexibility.
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Senate Bill 28 could eliminate patient protections for individuals on Medicaid and end access to vital preventive and primary care and choice of providers.
Medicaid — especially family planning — saves lives and taxpayer dollars.
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With Medicaid coverage of family planning, millions of women have been able to prevent unintended pregnancies, plan their families, and improve their health. When women plan their pregnancies they are more likely to seek prenatal care, resulting in better health outcomes for them and their children.
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For every $1 Missouri spends on Medicaid, the federal government pays $1.72. (Missouri Budget Project)
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For every $1 invested in family planning services, taxpayers save more than $7. (Guttmacher).
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Missouri recognizes the importance of family planning: Under Gov. Blunt the Legislature expanded eligibility for family planning services for individuals up to 200% of the federal poverty level.
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The federal government recognizes the importance of family planning: They pay 90% of the cost of family planning services for individuals up to 200% of the federal poverty level.
Instead of looking for ways to cut Medicaid, lawmakers should expand health insurance coverage.
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Currently, 300,000 Missourians have no access to health insurance coverage because they fall into the “Medicaid gap” — they make too much money to qualify for MO HealthNet, but they don’t make enough money to qualify for federal subsidies to help offset the cost of health insurance.
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Expanding Medicaid would create thousands of jobs and actually save Missouri money, because the federal government would pick up more of the cost.