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Missouri Medicaid Eligibility to be Issue in 2010 Session

http://stream.publicbroadcasting.net/production/mp3/kcur/local-kcur-874414.mp3

Jefferson City, MO – Missouri Governor Jay Nixon says he's still determined to boost the number of poor Missourians eligible for Medicaid.

The Democratic governor failed to persuade the GOP-led General Assembly earlier this year to expand Medicaid coverage to 35,000. He says he'll try again when the 2010 session begins next month.

"We're looking for a number of options to make sure that (we'll) have the coverage," Nixon said. "Obviously it's a difficult budget time right now for us, and we have a challenging level of income on the state side."

Republican House leaders opposed expanding Medicaid coverage to, quote, "able-bodied adults," and touted a plan late in the 2009 session to provide 20,000 "uninsurable" Missourians with health coverage.

The 2010 session begins January 6th.

Marshall Griffin is the Statehouse reporter for St. Louis Public Radio.
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