SPONSOR: Patterson
COMMITTEE ACTION: Voted "Do Pass" by the Standing Committee on Emerging Issues by a vote of 9 to 0.
Currently, low-income pregnant and postpartum women receiving benefits through MO HealthNet for pregnant women or the Show-Me Healthy Babies Program are eligible for pregnancy-related coverage throughout the pregnancy and for 60 days following the end of the pregnancy. This bill provides MO HealthNet coverage for such women will include full Medicaid benefits for the duration of the pregnancy and for one year following the end of the pregnancy. This coverage shall begin on April 1, 2022, or the effective date of the bill, whichever is later, and shall continue during any period of time the federal authorization for such coverage is in effect.
This bill has an emergency clause.
This bill is the same as SCS SB 698 & 639 (2022).
PROPONENTS: Supporters say that Missouri suffers from one of the highest maternal mortality rates in the country. This bill allows Missouri to access federal funds that will be made available beginning April 1, 2022 to allow for Medicaid benefits coverage for pregnant women for one year following the end of pregnancy. Currently, coverage is only available for 60 days following the end of pregnancy. Of all maternal deaths, 82% are preventable and 60% of these deaths occur during the gap between when coverage currently ends after 60 days but prior to one year after the end of the pregnancy. This bill will ensure greater access to health coverage for new mothers during a critical time when the need for care is highest.
Testifying for the bill were Representative Patterson; Alicia Mikkelsen; Pro Choice Missouri; Tracy Russell, Nurture KC; Missouri Catholic Conference; Campaign Life Missouri; Chloe Owens, Missouri Health Care for All; Advocates of Planned Parenthood of the St. Louis Region and Southwest Mo; Kids Win Missouri; Missouri Family Health Council, Inc.; Missouri Chapter, American Academy of Pediatrics; Arnie C. Ac Dienoff; Missouri Hospital Association; Shane W. Burks; Mistie Mills, MD, Missouri Section Acog; Missouri Coalition for Children; Missouri State Medical Association; American Heart Association; Operation Food Search; Kids Win Missouri, Children's Trust Fund, BJC Healthcare (Children's Hospital), National Association of Social Workers-Mo Chapter; and Missouri Right To Life. OPPONENTS: There was no opposition voiced to the committee.
Written testimony has been submitted for this bill. The full written testimony can be found under Testimony on the bill page on the House website.
Statutes affected: