Missouri Medicaid Reform

SB 577 establishes the Missouri HealthNet, which will replace the state's Medicaid program. The goal of the $6 billion program is to shift the focus of state-funded health care to prevention and early detection of diseases. Under the bill, MO HealthNet will:

Set up health care homes at existing facilities to serve as a central point of contact for patients and help patients create personalized long-term health plans.
Restore dental and vision care for Medicaid beneficiaries, subject to funding approval by the state Legislature each year.
Restore coverage for necessary medical equipment for adults, such as canes, catheters and hospital beds.
Restore coverage for children who were cut from the program in 2005. Premiums for children will be limited to 3% to 5% of parents' annual income.
Create a health program for uninsured women with annual incomes up to 185% of the federal poverty level.
Provide cancer screenings and family planning services, such as pelvic exams and Pap tests, to about 80,000 women.
Reinstate coverage for about 3,200 disabled workers.
Raise payments to medical providers up to the federal maximum within four years.
Allows physicians to collect copayments from Medicaid beneficiaries.
Establishes a pilot program in one rural area and one urban area of the state that allows workers to purchase employer-sponsored insurance subsidized by Medicaid.
Forms an 18-member committee responsible for the supervision of changes to the state Medicaid program.