House Minority Caucus 

 

For Immediate Release:                                  For more information contact:

Nov. 5, 2007                                                     Rep. Paul LeVota at (816) 918-1039

                                                                        Rep. Judy Baker at (573) 864-5385

House Democrats call for expanding health care access

Streamlining health care policies and illness prevention also key

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – As part of a comprehensive health care agenda for the 2008 legislative session, the Missouri House Democratic Caucus proposes reversing the state’s Medicaid cuts that resulted in 180,000 fewer Missourians – including 70,000 children – having access to health care services and establishing a new Missouri Health Policy Authority to streamline the state’s health care efforts.

Under changes in Medicaid eligibility enacted in 2005 by Gov. Matt Blunt and the Republican-controlled General Assembly, a parent with two children who earns more than $292 a month – just $3,504 a year – doesn’t qualify for coverage.

According to the Department of Social Services, restoring coverage to 2005 levels would have cost the state $155.8 million in general revenue for the current fiscal year, which would have allowed Missouri to leverage an additional $265.3 million in federal Medicaid funds. Instead, the legislature took the unprecedented step of leaving $320 million in available general revenue unspent in the current budget.

“Because of the state’s disastrous health care policies, the number of uninsured Missourians has spiked nearly 16 percent – three times the national rate,” said House Minority Leader Paul LeVota, D-Independence, citing U.S. Census Bureau figures released this summer. “Cutting health care was a mistake and thousands of Missourians have suffered as a result. We simply cannot afford to let yet another year pass without undoing the damage.”

House Democrats’ health care agenda also includes legislation by state Rep. Judy Baker, D-Columbia, to establish a Missouri Health Policy Authority to oversee the state’s role in health care, which is currently spread over several state departments and numerous boards and commissions. Kansas was the first state to establish such an authority and several others have since followed suit.

“Instead of creating more bureaucracy Missouri must streamline what it already has to ensure we get the most out of every taxpayer dollar spent on health care,” Baker said. “This will provide us a comprehensive and systematic approach to a pathway toward providing access to health care coverage for all Missourians.”

The authority would consist of an 11-member board of health care professionals appointed by the governor subject to Senate approval. It would function as the umbrella state agency for comprehensive health care policy. An office of inspector general would be established under the authority as a watchdog for corporate provider fraud and abuse and to ensure efficient allocation of state health care resources.

The Democratic plan also emphasizes prevention measures, including addressing Missouri’s ranking among the worst states in terms of smoking and obesity rates. House Democrats are calling for at least $6 million to be allocated in next year’s budget for smoking cessation programs.

To combat childhood obesity House Democrats support requiring public schools to provide children in kindergarten through eighth grade with at least 30 minutes of physical activity a day. High school students would be required to take at least two credits of physical education over four years instead of the current one credit. High schools would also to be required to develop policies regarding personal fitness plans for every student.

On the issue of patient privacy, state Rep. Mike Talboy, D-Kansas City, will sponsor legislation requiring medical providers to inform patients in the event their medical information is improperly disclosed to a third party. State law currently imposes no duty on medical providers to do so.

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