MDN.ORG:
Missouri Digital News
MDN.ORG
Mo. Digital News
Missouri Digital News
MDN.ORG:
Mo. Digital News
MDN.ORG:
Missouri Digital News
MDN.ORG:
Missouri Digital News
MDN.ORG
Mo. Digital News
Missouri Digital News
MDN.ORG:
Mo. Digital News
MDN.ORG:
Missouri Digital News
| Intro: | Budget cuts were put on hold in Missouri's Senate after it passed an autism bill that would cost Missouri up to 28 million dollars. |
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| RunTime: | 0:41 |
| OutCue: | SOC |
Wrap: The bill would force group health care providers to cover the diagnosis and treatment of autism in all of its forms.
It also allows Missourians to purchase health care from foreign insurers as long as they follow Missouri's regulations.
Senate Fiscal Oversight Committee Chairman Republican Chuck Purgason says that provision creates an ongoing expense that will continue to grow.
| Actuality: | PURG1.WAV |
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| Run Time: | 00:11 |
| Description: "The fact is, we are broke. We are going to sit here next week figuring out how we're going to cut people off and downsize the size of government, and yet we can't stop spending money." | |
Purgason said the state will need to cut more than billion dollars out of next year's budget.
From the State Capitol, I'm Nick Berry.
| Intro: | Up to 28 million dollars could go toward a government mandate forcing insurers to cover autism, despite the government trying to cut down on spending. |
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| RunTime: | 0:38 |
| OutCue: | SOC |
Wrap: The Senate passed a bill that makes group health care providers cover people with autism who are under 21.
St. Charles Republican Senator Scott Rupp said this would prevent individuals and employers from spending hundreds of thousands of dollars out of pocket because insurance companies are not covering autism costs.
| Actuality: | RUPP6.WAV |
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| Run Time: | 00:09 |
| Description: "We're doing our jobs in the state. The families are doing their jobs. The schools are doing their jobs. When, insurance companies, are you going to start doing yours?" | |
Those who voted no, said they weren't morally opposed to it, but given the current budget situation, passing it would cause more cuts.
From the State Capitol, I'm Nick Berry.