North County Inc.  Supports

Medicaid Expansion in Missouri

North County Inc. (NCI) regional development association has endorsed the Medicaid Expansion, Amendment 2 initiative that is on August 4, 2020 ballot. This would amend the Missouri constitution to do the following: adopt Medicaid Expansion for persons 19-64 years old with an income level at or below 133% of the federal poverty level; prohibit placing greater or additional burdens of eligibility or enrollment standards, methodologies, or practices on persons covered under Medicaid Expansion than on any other population eligible for Medicaid; and require state agencies to take all actions necessary to maximize federal financial participation in funding medical assistance under Medicaid Expansion.
“NCI has encouraged Medicaid expansion for several years. By bringing our tax dollars home, we can protect thousands of frontline healthcare jobs, help hospitals stay open, and deliver healthcare to individuals who earn less than $18,000 a year,” said Rebecca Zoll, president & CEO of North County Inc.
For a family of four the threshold would be around $35,000 per year or less to receive this benefit. North County area hospital leadership are in favor of Medicaid expansion because it supports vulnerable populations that get overlooked in our current healthcare system.
“Expanding Medicaid in the state will
provide access to care to over 200,000 Missourians, this is the right thing to do,” said Rick Stevens, President of Christian Hospital, and past board chair of North County Inc.
“SSM Health believes that everyone should have access to high quality and affordable healthcare.  We believe that Medicaid expansion will provide needed coverage to the poor and vulnerable in our communities,” added Ellis Hawkins, President, SSM Health DePaul Hospital and NCI executive board member. “By expanding Medicaid, we will not only be able to provide coverage for more Missourians, but we can also bring back federal tax dollars that we have been sending to other states who have expanded their Medicaid programs.”
Missouri’s tax dollars are now going to states like New York and California. According to the Missouri Foundation for Health, “The benefits of Medicaid expansion go far beyond issues of healthand insurance. At a time of economic hardship, high unemployment, and state budget cuts, expansion will inject more than a billion dollars per year into the Missouri economy, creating jobs, increasing economic output, and adding to personal income.”
Tesh Jewel, Vice President of Operations for Mercy Clinic–East Community in St. Louis said this of the proposed Medicaid expansion. “I’m proud to say that here at Mercy we believe expanding Medicaid is simply the right thing to do. As a healing ministry of Jesus, Mercy is called to care for the sick and the poor. We know expanding Medicaid will provide health care coverage for many hardworking people in our state.  We support letting the voters decide what is best for Missourians.”

NCI’s complete policy agenda can be found on NCI’s website at northstlouiscounty.com.

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