Thursday, May 10, 2007
Contact: Jessica Robinson, 573-751-0290
Blunt Applauds Budget’s Commitment to Missouri Health Care
JEFFERSON CITY– Gov. Matt Blunt today applauded the General Assembly for passing a budget that will improve Missourian’s health and transform the state’s health care safety net.
“The budget reflects my commitment to improving our health care safety net for vulnerable Missourians by increasing choice, improving quality and promoting preventative care,” Blunt said. “I applaud the General Assembly for joining me to deliver improved access to affordable health care for every Missourian and the guarantee that the sick and the poor will be well served. ”
House Bill 11 provides, among other things, the governor’s recommendations for:
- $26.5 million increase to improve care delivered to seniors and disabled Missourians in nursing home settings
- $40.6 million increase to modernize the state’s Medicaid payment system
- $6.7 million increase to provide child care for working families who earn less than 127 percent of the federal poverty level. This funding ensures no qualified families will have to wait for child care
- $5.7 million increase to provide additional placements through the Adoption Subsidy and Subsidized Guardianship programs, which provide permanent homes for abused and neglected children
- $5 million increase for enhancing information technology at Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHC’s) by building an electronic health records system
- $3.3 million increase to contract with county prosecuting attorney’s offices for the enforcement of obligations for delinquent child support payments from parents
- $3.2 million increase to provide an increase in payments to service providers of residential care for abused and neglected children
- $2.1 million increase to assist the state’s child welfare program in achieving national accreditation
- $6.4 billion total funding for Medicaid that reflects $886.5 million in new funding, and includes:
- $94.9 million for rate increases in managed care, hospice, NEMT, Premiums, and Clawback
- $69.9 million for increases in pharmacy needs
- $19.7 million increase for durable medical equipment
- $129.4 million for Mo HealthNet that includes
- $52.9 million for physician related rate increase
- $20.2 million increase for medical care for employed disabled clients
- $17.5 million to provide an annual health risk assessment for Mo HealthNet recipients
- $13.2 million increase to make health care coverage affordable to lower-income Missourians
- $7.8 million increase to expand health care coverage for children through the State Children’s Health Insurance Program (SCHIP)
- $2.9 million increase to fund pay-for-performance incentives to providers participating in the Chronic Care Improvement Program
- $1.7 million increase to extend health care benefits to foster children until their 21st birthday
After all budget bills are passed and submitted to the governor, the governor’s office will conduct a full review of the state’s budget to ensure it remains balanced and accountable to taxpayers before taking any action on the bills.