Suggestions flow as Missouri legislators weigh options for Medicaid

[Sherman A1]

JEFFERSON CITY • Give patients with chronic diseases a health care team. Monitor a state database to spot abuse of prescription drugs. Reward pregnant teens who keep their doctor appointments.

Those were among the many suggestions that flowed Wednesday to a Senate committee examining ways to improve the quality and efficiency of Medicaid, the joint state and federal health care program for the poor.

The Senate hearing was one of two held Wednesday as Missouri legislators grapple with whether to expand Medicaid to cover an additional 260,000 people, as envisioned by the federal Affordable Care Act. A House committee, meeting in St. Louis, heard from a long list of witnesses who urged that the program be expanded.

Medicaid pays for doctor visits, prescription drugs, nursing home care and other services for about 875,000 Missourians — low-income seniors, people with disabilities, and some families with children. Missouri’s program costs state and federal taxpayers about $8.5 billion a year.

http://www.stltoday.com/news/local/govt-and-politics/political-fix/suggestions-flow-as-missouri-legislators-weigh-options-for-medicaid/article_0560ecb4-19fc-597a-aa13-999839f8325b.html