Medicaid expansion remains in limbo

Missouri House budget leaders are unclear about the future of HB 11. The bill provides the fiscal year 2010 appropriation for the Missouri Department of Social Services. Hospitals' funding of health insurance expansion is at the center of the debate. The House and Senate conference committee included funding to expand Medicaid or other state-sponsored health insurance in the bill. However, the measure remains controversial.

Failure to adopt the budget by the constitutional deadline of Friday could lead to a special legislative session to craft a new bill.