States make cuts, Feds propose Medicaid expansion

Some Missouri officials say proposed health care legislation could create an unfunded mandate and even has some calling to abandon the state's participation in Medicaid.

The U.S. House passed its version of the bill shortly after Gov. Jay Nixon announced $32 million in cuts to Missouri's Medicaid program. Both the version passed Saturday by the House of Representatives and the separate version approved by the Senate Finance Committee would require an expansion of Missouri's eligibility rates for Medicaid.

Missouri has one of the lowest Medicaid eligibility rates of any state in the country, requiring a family of four to earn less than $4,400 a year for the parents to receive coverage. The federal poverty level for a family of four is $22,050.

The Senate version of health care reform would require Missouri to expand its eligibility from 20 percent of the federal poverty level to 133 percent. Under these provisions, that same family of four could earn up to $29,326, and the parents would still qualify for Medicaid. The House version raises eligibility to $33,075 for a family of four.

Source and More:
http://www.columbiamissourian.com/stories/2009/11/12/state-makes-cuts-federal-bills-propose-medicaid-expansion/