House passes appropriations without Medicaid expansion

Intro: Governor Jay Nixon's Medicaid expansion plan was shot down by the House. Rebecca Beitsch (BYE-tch) has more from the state Capitol. RunTime:0:58
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After a late night conference committee, leaders in the House and Senate removed Medicaid expansion from the budget. Another bill giving health insurance to those with preexisting conditions has been deemed the last vehicle for any state-sponsored health insurance program.

But in a lengthy debate, one House Democrat said this "dirty deal" would do nothing to give health insurance to those dropped from Medicaid in 2005.

Representative Mike Roorda:

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Description: "So don't let anyone call this a compromise. It's a dirty deal done dirt cheap. And there's no reason in the world that Missourians, or House Democrats, or anyone with any common sense should trust the Republican leadership in this House to deliver health care policy that helps Missourians."

Many Republicans said it makes more sense to cover the uninsurable as they cost the state more money.

The measure passed after a strict party-line vote.

From the state Capitol, I'm Rebecca Beitsch, Newsradio 1120 KMOX.

Intro: The Missouri House voted today to ensure there would be no Medicaid expansion this year.

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The House and Senate have agreed to scrap Governor Nixon's Medicaid expansion plan in favor of another bill.

But House Democrats were angry that their only chance to expand health coverage would go to people with preexisting conditions rather than the poor.

Representative Doug Ervin defended the plan saying it was cost effective for the state.

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Description: "Let's help those people who are more likely to contribute to uncompensated care due to their health status, people who can't get coverage anywhere else."

The bill passed 87-74 and will now move to the Senate.

From Jefferson City, I'm Rebecca Beitsch, Newsradio 1120 KMOX.

Intro: The Missouri House approved of a measure stripped of Medicaid expansion. Rebecca Beitsch (BYE-tch) has more from the state Capitol. RunTime:0:45
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The House approved a measure stripped of its Medicaid provision in favor of a bill that provides coverage to the uninsurable.

But many House Democrats accused their Republican colleagues of doing little to remedy the cuts made in 2005.

Jackson County Democrat Mike Talboy urged the body to vote down the bill, take it back to conference, and include Medicaid.

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Description: "This isn't expansion. This is restoration. It's admitting that we made a mistake in 2005. It's admitting that maybe we were cruel."

Many Republicans said they favored helping those with preexisting conditions because they are costly to the state.

The bill passed along strict party lines.

From the state Capitol, I'm Rebecca Beitsch, Newsradio 1120 KMOX.

Intro: The Missouri House voted down Jay Nixon's Medicaid expansion plan. Rebecca Beitsch (BYE-tch) has more from the state Capitol.

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House and Senate leaders removed Medicaid expansion from the budget, leaving the House debating between returning the bill to conference or focusing on a plan to cover the uninsurable.

Democrats urged their colleagues to vote no, send the bill back to conference committee, and restore the Medicaid cuts from 2005.

But Republicans have embraced those who can't get insurance because of preexisting conditions.

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Description: "They cannot go and buy insurance. They won't sell it to them. They're too sick. They don't have equal opportunity under the law. So who should we help? People who have the opportunity to work a little harder and pay their own premium or people who don't have the opportunity?"

The House approved the bill without Medicaid on a strict party-line vote.

From Jefferson City, I'm Rebecca Beitsch, Newsradio 1120 KMOX.

Intro: The Missouri House voted down Jay Nixon's Medicaid expansion plan. Rebecca Beitsch (BYE-tch) has more from the state Capitol. RunTime:0:54
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The newest version of the bill had been scrapped of Medicaid expansion, but House Democrats urged their Republican colleagues to vote no on House bill 11 and get the Medicaid expansion provision back in.

Troy Democrat Ed Schieffer said Republicans shouldn't be complaining when the expansion can be done without the use of state money.

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Description: "Why has your side been so steadfast on this? And the answer, Mr. Speaker, the sad answer was,'We are hoping for a better deal.' What in the world could be better than helping people who need insurance, helping people who need Medicaid, and actually keeping people off of welfare?"

Republicans have embraced another bill that would provide insurance to those who cannot get it because of preexisting conditions.

House bill 11 passed along a strict party-line vote.

From Jefferson City, I'm Rebecca Beitsch, Newsradio 1120 KMOX.