JEFFERSON CITY— Sen. Paul LeVota, D-Independence, will be instrumental in guiding state policy makers as they consider Medicaid expansion and reform. Sen. LeVota has been appointed to the Senate Interim Committee on Medicaid Transformation and Reform. 
During the 2013 legislative session, Sen. LeVota sponsored legislation to expand Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act, but the Senate committee it was heard in defeated the bill on a party line vote.

The 10-member Medicaid interim committee will consider methods to prevent fraud and abuse in the MO HealthNet system, will consider cost-effective ways to provide coverage under MO HealthNet, and will consider market-based approaches to comply with federal Medicaid requirements. 

Senator LeVota says his goal is to expand health insurance coverage to the nearly 300,000 working poor Missourians who currently have no health insurance.

“If the interim committee needs to consider various ways to reform our health care delivery system, I have no problem with that as long as we also consider ways to provide health care services to Missouri families,” Sen. LeVota said. “Numerous studies have shown the economic and social benefits to states that expand Medicaid under the ACA. I know members of the majority party still oppose Obamacare, but it is the law of the land.  Instead of firing partisan broadsides at the federal government, we need to consider the welfare of the people we represent and ensure no one in Missouri has to choose between paying the bills or getting needed medical services.”

The Senate Interim Committee on Medicaid Transformation and Reform must report its findings and recommendations to the General Assembly by December 15, 2013.

For more information on Sen. LeVota’s committee appointments and other legislative actions, visit his Missouri Senate website at www.senate.mo.gov/levota.