Missouri Supreme Court Sides With Supporters Of Medicaid Expansion

JEFFERSON CITY, Missouri (KMIZ)

The Missouri Supreme Court ruled Thursday that the Medicaid expansion approved by state voters does not violate the state’s constitutional ban on voters creating new programs that are not funded.

The court, in its 14-page unanimous decision, returned the case to the Cole County Circuit Court and asked the judge to hand down a judgment in favor of those seeking to expand the program. Three women eligible for enlargement sued the state in May after the legislature failed to allocate additional funds to the program and Gov. Mike Parson asked his administration not to expand the eligibility.

Expanded eligibility was to begin on July 1 with the new fiscal year of the state. Voters approved the amendment to expand the health insurance program for low-income people last August. The expansion would increase income needs and make about 275,000 more Missourians more eligible for Medicaid.

Cole County Circuit Judge Jon Beetem ruled last month in favor of the state, which argued that the constitution’s ban on voter-approved amendments creating new programs without funding meant that the expansion could not go forward. Supporters of the expansion argued that the vote created no new agenda, it simply expanded an already existing program that the legislature was required to fund.

The Supreme Court opinion also said that the legislature’s appropriation bills did not exclude funding to cover an expanded Medicaid population.

“Without any ambiguity, the amounts allocated … cannot be used to alter the plain language of the stated objectives – to fund MO HealthNet without distinguishing between the services provided to eligible persons as part of the pre-expansion population” and the new eligible the court wrote in its opinion.

MO HealthNet, the name of the state’s Medicaid program, has one of the strictest eligibility rules in the country. It does not cover most non-disabled adults without children. Parents can qualify if their household income is below 21% of the federal poverty line, which in 2021 is less than $ 5,000 per year for a family of three.

As part of the expansion, a person earning approximately $ 18,000 per year would be eligible.

“Today was another big win for all Missourians,” Caitlyn Adams, executive director of Missouri Jobs with Justice, said in a statement. “This decision restores faith in our democracy and that the power of the people will continue to prevail over political demagoguery. For more than a decade, we have called on lawmakers in Jefferson City to do the right thing and expand Medicaid. “

The American Cancer Society Action Network also praised the decision. “Increased eligibility for Medicaid increases access to vital health services, dramatically reduces health and cancer disparities, and improves cancer survival,” government relations director Emily Kalmer said in a statement.

Check back for more on this developing story.