[Nfbmo] FW: During visit to St. Charles County Economic Development Center, Gov. Nixon discusses plan to protect taxpayers, boost economy by strengthening Medicaid

[McMahon, Cory J]

Dear all,

 

FYI.

 

Sincerely,

 

Cory McMahon

 

From: Holste, Scott [mailto:Scott.Holste at mo.gov] 
Sent: Wednesday, February 20, 2013 11:21 AM
To: Holste, Scott
Cc: Ansley, Channing
Subject: During visit to St. Charles County Economic Development Center,
Gov. Nixon discusses plan to protect taxpayers, boost economy by
strengthening Medicaid

 

Contact:           Scott Holste, (573) 751-0290

                         <mailto:Scott.Holste at mo.gov> Scott.Holste at mo.gov

                                Channing Ansley, (573) 751-0290

                         <mailto:Channing.Ansley at mo.gov>
Channing.Ansley at mo.gov   

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Feb. 20, 2013

During visit to St. Charles County Economic Development Center, Gov. Nixon
discusses plan to protect taxpayers, boost economy by strengthening Medicaid

Bringing the tax dollars Missourians send to Washington back to Missouri is
the smart business decision for our state, Gov. Nixon says

ST. CHARLES, Mo. - Gov. Jay Nixon today visited the St. Charles County
Economic Development Center to discuss how his plan to bring the dollars
Missourians send to Washington back to strengthen Medicaid in Missouri will
benefit taxpayers, businesses and the economy. In the first three years, the
Governor's proposal would bring $5.7 billion to Missouri and provide health
coverage to an additional 300,000 Missourians, at no cost to the state.  

"Non-partisan business organizations throughout the state have endorsed this
plan because they recognize that bringing the dollars Missourians send to
Washington back to strengthen Medicaid in Missouri will protect taxpayers
and grow our economy," Gov. Nixon said. "Otherwise, those dollars will go to
some other state. They'll get the benefit, and we'll get the bill."

Last fall, a study by the University of Missouri found that bringing these
dollars back to Missouri to strengthen Medicaid would create 24,000 new jobs
in Missouri in 2014 alone. As a result of this clear economic benefit, a
growing coalition of business and economic development organizations have
endorsed the Medicaid expansion, including the Missouri Chamber of Commerce;
the chambers of commerce in Columbia, Hannibal, Independence, Kansas City,
Kirksville, Lee's Summit, Springfield, St. Louis and West Plains; the Civic
Council of Greater Kansas City; the Associated Industries of Missouri;
Kirksville Regional Economic Development Inc., and Columbia Regional
Economic Development Inc.

"Across the country, Republican governors in Ohio, Michigan, Arizona, North
Dakota, New Mexico and Nevada are putting politics aside to seize this
opportunity to create jobs and stand up for taxpayers in their states," Gov.
Nixon said. "We must do the same here in Missouri."

Under the proposed expansion, low-income Missourians who can't afford health
insurance and earn less than 138 percent of the Federal Poverty Level would
be eligible for coverage. A family of four living at 138 percent of the
Federal Poverty Level in 2013 makes $32,500 a year.

Because federal funding will cover 100 percent of the costs for calendar
years 2014, 2015 and 2016, expanding health care coverage to those 300,000
uninsured Missourians would involve no state tax dollars for those years.
Some of these federal dollars will pay for coverage that is currently being
paid for with state dollars. In addition, the economic benefit of expansion
will generate additional state revenue. These savings and revenue are
conservatively estimated to have a positive impact of $46.6 million in 2014,
$125 million in 2015, and $139.6 million in 2016. 

Missouri hospitals are already required by law to treat people who have no
health insurance. As a result, the high cost of caring for the uninsured is
passed on to employers and individuals who must pay higher premiums for
their health insurance. According to the University of Missouri study, the
average family of four in Missouri pays $434 more in insurance premiums due
to the cost of the uninsured. Under the proposed Medicaid expansion, this
cost shift will be reduced - saving each family an estimated $200 in lower
premium costs each year. 

###

 

 

Scott Holste

Press Secretary

Missouri Gov. Jay Nixon

573-751-0290

 

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