Medicaid Expansion Endorsements
Warrensburg Daily-Star Journal: Yes to Medicaid funds.
“The question is this: Would Missourians be better off to expand Medicaid than not? Yes, they would, Gov. Jay Nixon, and the Missouri and Warrensburg chambers of commerce, state. We agree… Missourians getting back some of what they pay into the federal system makes sense and if this state does not take the money, then another state will. In addition to the "take it or lose it" fiscal side of the debate is the humanitarian side -- something some people seem to scorn these days. But others realize providing medical care for 300,000 more people is the right thing to do. There also is a business aspect. The proposed transfusion of $5.7 billion for health care into Missouri's economy would provide a powerful antidote for a state that ails financially. No, the situation is not ideal. But after looking at both sides, we support Warrensburg and other chambers of commerce across the state in backing Medicaid expansion for Missouri.” [3/21/12]
Columbia Daily Tribune: Medicaid Expansion.
“Republicans should come around because it is the right thing to do, both as a way to expand health care coverage and to bolster the state economy. As supporters often note, if Missouri does not take the federal money, it will go elsewhere and pressure to expand Medicaid in our state will remain. How smart is that?” [3/6/12]
Springfield News-Leader: Get Moving on Medicaid.
“With the economic health of the state and the health care industry in the balance, it is time for the Missouri General Assembly to get serious about expanding Medicaid..” [3/2/12]
St. Joseph News-Press:
Medicaid ball now in GOP’s court. “Republicans in the Missouri General Assembly have their wake-up call: Put forward a better argument for opposing an expansion of Medicaid, or risk the scorn of all voters who desire to pay less and receive more in the way of government services… States that participate will have healthier families, lower health care costs impacting everyone, and a ripple of other economic benefits. None of these good outcomes will flow to those states that opt out.” [1/12/13]
Kansas City Star: Missouri would benefit from Medicaid expansion.
“It turns out that keeping Missourians healthy by expanding access to Medicaid is also a great prescription for the state's financial health.” [12/21/12]
St. Louis Post-Dispatch: Want jobs? Expand Medicaid.
“It is time to say yes, Missouri. Yes to jobs. Yes to investment. Yes to a healthier future.” [11/29/12]
St. Louis American: Expanded Medicaid ‘Too Good to Pass Up.’
“Injection of these federal funds would bring substantial benefits to the state’s economy. There would be a need for more hospitals, doctors and pharmacists all over the state, with positive economic benefits for the state from these new employers and employees. Moreover, there would also be an increase in jobs in a wider range of professions. Even the business community in rural and urban areas across the state is mounting unprecedented support because they understand the reality described in a report from Wells Fargo Securities that, ‘”The federal government’s generous reimbursement for expanded coverage is indeed too good to pass up.’” [3/21/12]
Cape Girardeau Chamber of Commerce
The Cape Girardeau Area Chamber of Commerce on Tuesday joined a growing list of chambers and other organizations across the state in supporting Medicaid expansion in Missouri -- an issue that continues to be a point of contention in the state Legislature. Fifteen members of the chamber's 19-member board of directors voted Tuesday morning to support the expansion with several recommendations, which president and CEO John Mehner said should make the organization's position very clear.
"The chamber Board of Directors voted to endorse the plan proposed by Gov. Jay Nixon to accept federal aid to add the uninsured people, saying in a news release that expansion would be good for chamber members and the Columbia-Boone County community."
St. Louis Regional Chamber & Growth Association (RCGA)
"...we urge you to support leveraging the available federal funds to expand Missouri’s Medicaid program to help reduce the uninsured population, prevent further cost-shifting, create jobs and improve the health of our workforce."
Kansas City Chamber of Commerce
"[The Chamber will] Support choosing to maximize coverage under the Medicaid program to those newly eligible under the ACA by utilizing the federal funds contributed by employers and workers that are available to the State through 2019."
Missouri Budget Project
“Expanding Medicaid would help every region in the state, but would have the most dramatic impact in rural areas.”
Missouri Chamber of Commerce
"Missouri’s choice to maximize coverage to those newly eligible would result in an estimated return of $8.4 billion in Federal funds to Missouri through 2019. These are funds that Missouri’s employers and workers have contributed with their Federal taxes. Failure on the part of the State to take advantage of this Federal investment increases the likelihood of potential liability by the State’s employers for increased taxes imposed by the ACA and the continued cost shifting of health care premiums now paid by Missouri’s employers to cover the cost to providers of the uninsured."
Missouri Hospital Association
"Implementation of the federal health care reform law presents a unique win/win opportunity for Missouri’s hospitals, other providers and elected leaders to truly reform the Medicaid program through reductions in per capita costs of health care, increased choice for beneficiaries, competition between health plans and better management of high-utilization patients"
St. Louis Post-Dispatch
"The federal government is promising a 10-to-1 return on investment in health care if states kick in a fractional increase in their Medicaid budgets. It is time to say yes, Missouri. Yes to jobs. Yes to investment. Yes to a healthier future."
Kansas City Star
"But rural Missouri has the most to gain from the expansion. It would dramatically reduce the ranks of the uninsured and bring millions of health care dollars into lagging economies. And it would keep rural hospitals solvent."
St. Louis American
"The federal government is going to spend these Missouri tax dollars somewhere; it is up to the Legislature to make sure they are spent in Missouri...The economic benefits go beyond providing better health care for more Missourians – and they trump ideology."
Missouri Health Care for All
“We have a moral obligation to make sure that all of our neighbors and friends across our state have access to affordable care to keep them healthy. Expanding Medicaid will cover more than 260,000 uninsured people, and save the safety net providers and rural hospitals that will crumble without it. The additional funds, already set aside for Missouri, will cover the hard-working poor who are often working multiple jobs and still cannot afford the coverage they need to keep them healthy and productive. The people of Missouri know that this will create thousands of jobs, promote a healthier workforce and give us all a healthier community. Expanding Medicaid to 138% of poverty, which translates to $26,000 a year for a family of three, is an important step toward the goal of affordable health care access to all and will be good for all the people of Missouri.”