By
Winton Policy Group, NASW-MO’s lobbying team
The Senate gave initial approval to legislation extending postpartum Medicaid benefits with language added on abortion and Medicaid reform, which was sought by a group of conservative Senators.
Under current law, coverage under the Mo HealthNet for Pregnant Women and Show Me Healthy Babies programs ends 60 days postpartum. SB 45, sponsored by Senator Elaine Gannon (R-DeSoto), would extend this coverage to one year. This bill was supported in committee by a broad coalition of health and child welfare groups as an avenue to improve outcomes for new moms and babies.
SB 45 is estimated to extend coverage for about 4,500 women who are enrolled in a pregnancy-related Medicaid program but do not qualify for other categories of long-term coverage. CMS would have to approve Missouri's plan for this extended coverage to take effect.
On the Senate floor, language was included to stipulate that women would only receive the extended coverage after giving birth to a child or the pregnancy ending "involuntarily or necessarily to save the life of the mother." Concerns have been raised that the addition of this language could jeopardize the federal approval needed for the extended coverage to be enacted.
Language was also added prohibiting any Medicaid payments to providers for services delivered to individuals residing out of state. Medicaid does not currently issue out-of-state payments.
Additionally, SB 45 now requires Medicaid to resume annual redeterminations to verify eligibility, which were paused during the federal public health emergency, within 30 days of the bill taking effect. These redeterminations are currently set to begin on April 1.
This bill needs a final roll call vote on the Senate floor to move to the House for consideration.