Senate endorses coverage plan structure

The Missouri Senate has endorsed Sen. Tom Dempsey's SB 306 to create the "Show-Me Health Coverage" program. The proposal -- which is very similar to last-year's Insure Missouri plan -- would extend coverage to low income care givers through a market-base insurance model. The bill is not required to implement the coverage expansion included in the Senate's budget proposal. However, Senate Appropriations Committee chair Sen. Gary Nodler, has indicated that the fund the Senate included could be used for either Dempsey's plan or a traditional Medicaid expansion as proposed by Gov. Jay Nixon.