Thank
you for writing regarding the expansion of Medicaid in Missouri. I
truly appreciate you taking the time to participate in our political
process and to make your voice heard.
I support expanding
Medicaid to the full 138% of poverty level to enable working families
the access they need, and to allow Missouri to take full advantage of
the enhanced Federal funding available pursuant to the Affordable Care
Act. I believe this issue impacts EVERY Missourian: the men, women and
children who need healthcare, the employers that provide coverage for
employees, the clinics, hospitals, and healthcare workers that provide
needed care, and the hard working men and women of our state who
purchase health insurance on the private market. The General Assembly's
failure to do the right thing - both morally and economically - would be
wrong for every Missourian.
There are many aspects of HB700
that I do not agree with and which fail to provide the level of care
that Missourians deserve. In addition to not complying with the
Affordable Care Act's requirement to provide coverage to residents up to
138% of the poverty level, HB700 also threatens existing care and
services to women, children, and those who are blind.
On April
3, several amendments were offered in the Government Oversight Committee
to cure some of these defects, including the expansion of coverage to
138% of the Federal poverty level. Other than one technical amendment
that I offered, none of the amendments presented by Democrats survived
the committee vote.
The decision as to whether HB700 should
receive a vote to pass it out of committee in its present form was very
difficult. Ultimately, I voted in favor of the bill, and stated that
the only reason for my "yes" vote was that I believed this issue was too
important to stop the process at the committee level, that the dialogue
about Medicaid expansion needs to continue, that it was my fervent hope
that the bill could be properly amended to cure its many defects, and I
would not support the bill on the floor without the needed amendments.
I view Medicaid expansion in Missouri as a long process. The committee
vote was but one battle, and I will continue to fight to win on behalf
of every Missourian, as I believe each and every resident of our state
deserves access to quality and affordable health care.
Again, I
appreciate you taking the time to write and express your opinions on
this very important subjects, and I hope you will continue to make your
voice heard in the General Assembly. Should you have any further
questions, comments, or concerns, please feel free to contact me.
Gina Mitten
District 83
Missouri House of Representatives
201 West Capitol Avenue, Room 109H
Jefferson City, MO 65101
573-751-2883-----Original Message-----
From: Blue Print Site [mailto:
mohealthc...@yahoo.com]
Sent: Monday, April 01, 2013 2:25 PM
To: Gina Mitten
Subject: Expand Medicaid - don't cut it
Apr 1, 2013
Representative Gina Mitten
Dear Representative Mitten,
I urge you and the House Committee on Government Oversight and
Accountability to support a full expansion of Medicaid, covering all
those earning up to 138% of the federal poverty level.
I am glad that the Committee is continuing the conversation on Medicaid
expansion by considering HB 700. Unfortunately, this bill in its
current form would result in no expansion of Medicaid, while cutting
coverage for vulnerable groups. The federal government has made it
clear that they cannot legally give the enhanced federal match for
partial expansions such as the one included in HB 700.
Fully expanding Medicaid eligibility in Missouri to 138% of the Federal
Poverty Level is a win-win-win proposal for Missouri's citizens, budget
and the economy. HB 700, as currently written, is lose-lose-lose: it
covers fewer people, creates fewer jobs, and costs the state more
money.
I would like a reply to your thinking on the subject
I urge the Committee to fix HB 700, increasing Medicaid eligibility to
138% of the Federal Poverty Level, and to work to pass full expansion
through the General Assembly.
Sincerely,
Mr
Saint Louis, MO 63118-1423
