Senate approves Show Me Health Coverage

Intro: The Missouri Senate approved a measure that would give health coverage to 35,000 Missourians who make too much money to qualify for Medicaid. Rebecca Beitsch (b-EYE-ch) has more from the State Capitol. RunTime:0:45
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Although the bill is sponsored by a Republican, the harshest critics to the bill that would cover uninsured parents were fellow Republicans.

Some of the Senate's more conservative Republicans say they see Show Me Health Coverage as the next step to universal health care.

St. Louis Senator Jim Lembke:

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Description: "Where we have a philosophical difference is who's roll is it, the state's roll, is it the government's roll, to provide universal health care. Because I think that's where we're heading with this bill."

Bill sponsor Tom Dempsey said his primary goal is to get the uninsured out of the ER and in to see a primary care physician.

The bill passed 27-7 and will now move to the House.

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

One of the more liberal Democrats in the Senate criticized a bill giving health insurance to 35,000 uninsured parents saying it didn't do enough to insure low income people.

St. Louis Democrat Joan Bray said those who don't work but their disability or child support payments make them too wealthy for Medicaid wouldn't be covered.

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Description: "So it would therefore exclude many Missourians who would be covered if we simply made them eligible for Medicaid."

Supporters said they wanted the uninsured out of the ER and into a doctor's office. The bill passed 27-7 and will now move to the House.

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

Intro: The Missouri Senate approved a measure that would give health coverage to 35,000 Missourians who make too much money to qualify for Medicaid. RunTime:0:35
OutCue: SOC

Despite significant opposition from more conservative Republicans, the Senate voted to give health coverage to uninsured parents.

Republican Senator Eric Schmitt of St. Louis County said the bill would make some medical processes more efficient while getting the uninsured out of the ER.

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Description: "So what we're allowing to do is we're shifting those dollars from an inefficient way of delivering health care to a place where people can get preventative care; they can focus on wellness.

The bill passed 27-7 and will now move to the House.

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

Some of the same Republicans that opposed the so called Show Me Health Coverage bill, were supportive of the bill's transparency measures.

The sponsor said he hopes it will give consumers more information about the cost and quality of procedures at hospitals.

Senator Luann Ridgeway said botched surgeries are the reason that kind of information should be available to consumers.

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Description: "Why would a man in his 50's be passing away because of complications of hip surgery? I might want to know who his health care provider was and what hospital he was in before I had hip surgery."

The bill passed 27-7 and will now move on to the House.

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