Show-Me Health Coverage bill perfected in the senate

Intro: It was Republican against Republican on the Senate floor Wednesday, before perfecting a bill regarding health care.

Jennifer Meckles has more from Jefferson City.

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Cape Girardeau Republican Senator Jason Crowell is hesitant to support a bill that would use federal stimulus money to provide coverage for low-income workers in Missouri.

"Show Me Health Coverage" would benefit people who make too much money to qualify for Medicaid, but who still cannot afford their own insurance.

Crowell said he worries about what will happen next year when there is no stimulus money.

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Description: "I do not want to see massive expansion of governmental involvement on the state level that is unsustainable into a duration of the future done."

Crowell said the health care problems will not be solved, but only grow.

Bill sponsor, Majority Caucus Whip Tom Dempsey disagreed.

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Description: "The language in the bill states that, if the money's not there, the program goes away."

Dempsey says the program would be available to nearly 35,000 Missourians.

Crowell continued to oppose Dempsey on government involvement in health care coverage.

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CROWELL: "If we are only focused on how best to provide coverage to these 35,000 adults, I don't know why we would pass your bill that lays, really, the fundamental groundwork to massive government support of future healthcare."

DEMPSEY: "No, what it does is provide a free-market based alternative to Medicaid expansion."

Dempsey sponsored a similar bill last year, "Insure Missouri," that received overwhelming support in the Senate, but was then shut down by the House Health Care Committee.

From the State Capitol, I'm Jennifer Meckles.

Intro: The question for Senate Republicans today: What to do about health care for low-income workers in Missouri?

Jennifer Meckles has more from the State Capitol.

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The Senate perfected a bill that would use federal stimulus money to provide coverage for Missouri workers with low-incomes.

The measure would benefit people who make too much money to qualify for Medicaid, but who still cannot afford their own health insurance.

Bill sponsor Majority Caucus Whip Tom Dempsey says this program will help alleviate their burden.

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Description: "The population of the people we serve is complex. In age, in income, in ability versus disability. and that we have to have flexible solutions as we look at trying to provide better health care."

Nearly 35,000 Missourians are eligible for this coverage.

From Jefferson City, I'm Jennifer Meckles.