Missouri governor wants to use $5.7B to provide health coverage - KOAM TV 7

Missouri governor wants to use $5.7B to provide health coverage to additional 300,000 residents

Missouri Governor Jay Nixon makes a stop in Joplin to discuss his plan to bring billions of dollars back to Missouri.

The governor met with business and health care leaders at MSSU's Plaster School of Business to talk about his plan to expand Medicaid.

Over the next three years the governor's proposal would bring an estimated $5.7 billion to Missouri and provide health coverage to an additional 300,000 residents at no cost to the state.

While federal funding is covering those costs some of those federal dollars would pay for coverage that is currently being paid for with state dollars.

Governor Nixon says expanding Medicaid will not only benefit the economy but businesses and families and bring Missouri tax dollars back to work in Missouri.

"If we take a pass on the billions of health care dollars that money will go to another state," says Governor Nixon.  "I want Missouri dollars to work here in Missouri and if we look at this at a business decision for the state of Missouri it's clear the Medicaid expansion would be a big win for our economy."

Low income Missouri residents who can not afford health insurance and earn less than 128% of the federal poverty level would be eligible for coverage under the proposed expansion.