Monday, July 2, 2007
Contact: Jessica Robinson, 573-751-0290
Blunt Signs Mo HealthNet Bill, Marks Important Step Forward for Health, Wellness
Mo HealthNet Women's Initiative will Improve Health Care for 83,000 Low Income Missouri WomenST. JOSEPH– Gov. Matt Blunt today signed legislation to enact Mo HealthNet, his initiative to provide a better health care program for low income Missourians. In a visit to the Patee Health Center, Blunt highlighted how the Mo HealthNet Women's Health Initiative will expand access to health services to more than 80,000 women.
"We can and must find ways to make high quality health coverage affordable and accessible for all Missourians," Gov. Blunt said. "I am pleased to expand these important services to tens of thousands of Missouri women who might never before have had access to care. By taking a pro-active rather than reactive approach to health care, we will give poor, elderly, and disabled Missourians a health care system they can be proud of, one that delivers real results."
Mo HealthNet expands women's health care services to about 83,000 women. This includes a yearly women's health exam that covers services such as breast and cervical cancer screenings. The program expands coverage for uninsured women and provides women's health services to all women below 185 percent of poverty, instead of only providing services to post-partum patients.
"I commend and appreciate the Governor's attention to this important health issue," said Dr. Daniel Purdom, director of Samuel U. Rodgers Community Health Center in Kansas City. "This expansion to women's health services will help identify many forms of preventable and treatable diseases that affect thousands of women."
Mo HealthNet stands apart from what any other state has done or is doing. Missouri's program puts people first, increases choice, improves quality and promotes preventative care. It transforms Missouri's health care safety net, empowers Missourians to be participants and focuses on health and wellness.
The governor signed Senate Bill 577, sponsored by Sen. Charlie Shields, to authorize the improved health care access plan for Missouri. Mo HealthNet:
- Replaces the failing Medicaid system to improve health care for low income Missourians
- Delivers on the promise to create an innovative health care system to deliver 21st Century health care to Missourians
- Promotes prevention, health and wellness
- Recognizes the importance of personal attention and a personalized health plan
- Gives participants the option to choose their health care home (A health care home provides a central point of contact for participants and ensures each is treated as an individual, not a number)
- Expands health care to working Missourians with disabilities
- Expands care to foster children until they are 21 years of age
- Allows more children to be eligible for health coverage under the State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP)
- Increases health care coverage for the lower-income working uninsured
- Embraces technology to improve health care safety and quality
- Provides additional tools for furthering the fight against fraud and abuse of taxpayer resources
"This lays a new foundation in our approach to health by focusing on prevention and wellness rather than only treating people when they are sick," said Senate President Pro Tem Michael Gibbons.
"People deserve to live better, healthier lives," said sponsor Sen. Charlie Shields. "HealthNet will provide quality care to our vulnerable citizens while spending taxpayers' money wisely."