House rejects a bill calling for Medicaid expansion
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House rejects a bill calling for Medicaid expansion

Date: February 25, 2013
By: Katie Kreider
State Capitol Bureau
Links: HB 627

Intro: 
House committee members rejected a bill calling for Medicaid expansion on Monday.
RunTime:  0:43
OutCue:  SOC

Wrap: Despite an overwhelming amount of support from medical and health organizations present at the hearing, every Republican comittee member voted against Medicaid expansion.

They expressed concern that the federal government won't follow through on its obligation to pay for the program.

Republican Representative Mark Parkinson says the state can't put more money into what he calls a "broken program."

Actuality:  PARK4.WAV
Run Time:  00:06
Description: "We can' afford this...federal government, state government, whatever. The federal government's broke."

Supporters say rural hospitals will be hit the hardest by losing out on federal funding.

Democratic Representative and bill sponsor Jacob Hummel says the measure would have added 24-thousand jobs.

Reporting from the state Capitol, I'm Katie Kreider.

Intro: 
The House committee gave a resounding "no" vote to Medicaid expansion on Monday.
RunTime:  0:43
OutCue:  SOC

Wrap: The CEO of Pemiscot Memorial Hospital said Medicaid expansion would help patients who can't afford health insurance.

But opponents to the measure say giving more funding to Medicaid isn't the answer.

Republican Representative Mark Parkinson says it is a waste to put more money into a program that doesn't work.

Actuality:  PARK3.WAV
Run Time:  00:11
Description: "What you're proposing we do here in front of the World, is throw more money at a broken program. That won't fix the broken program, that will just make the broken program more expensive."

Supporters point to studies showing Medicaid expansion would create about 24-thousand jobs.

The final House committee vote was 5-to-2, with every Republican representative voting against it.

Reporting from the state Capitol, I'm Katie Kreider.