JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. — The prospects of expanding Medicaid in Missouri appear dead in the final week of the legislative session.
On Wednesday, Sen. Ryan Silvey, R-Kansas City, briefly introduced his Medicaid expansion and reform bill on the Senate floor, but quickly withdrew it citing concerns about a Republican filibuster.
This means Missouri could lose out on $1.8 billion in federal funds this year to expand Medicaid to some 300,000 low-income Missourians making up to 138 percent of the federal poverty level, or just over $32,000 for a family of four.
“It is dead and it has been dead the entire session,” said Sen. John Lamping, R-Ladue. “Lobbyists have tried to create perception of positive movement when there was none other than Silvey.”