Area chambers support Medicaid expansion

The Springfield, Branson and Bolivar chambers of commerce are among 30 business groups to voice support of Medicaid expansion in Missouri.

The expansion has been a focus of Gov. Jay Nixon since he announced the plan in November and promoted it his January State of the State address.

The plan would take advantage of provisions enacted by the federal Affordable Care Act, which Nixon has said would bring $5.7 billion in taxpayer money to Missouri for calendar years 2014-16. During the first two years, federal funding would cover 100 percent of the costs of providing health care coverage to an additional estimated 300,000 Missouri residents, after which the state would pay 5 percent in 2017, 6 percent in 2018, 7 percent in 2019 and 10 percent beginning in 2020, according to Springfield Business Journal archives.

Last week, the Missouri Chamber of Commerce and Industry reluctantly came out in support of the measure, saying without the expansion, the cost of providing care to the uninsured would be passed on to businesses and individuals.

“Bringing our tax dollars home to Missouri makes smart business sense," Nixon said in a news release, announcing the latest support. "That’s why business organizations in every corner of the state are supporting our efforts to strengthen our economy by strengthening Medicaid. Business leaders also know that failing to move forward will impose higher costs on Missouri employers, while those in other states see lower costs and healthier workers.

"Without Medicaid expansion, Missouri businesses will be at a competitive disadvantage."

In the release, unnamed officials from the Bolivar and Branson chambers noted their support was due largely to significant employers Citizens Memorial Healthcare in Bolivar and Cox Medical Center Branson.

During an live interview with SBJ yesterday, Cox Medical Center Branson President and CEO William Mahoney said Missouri Medicaid expansion is necessary, given the amount of potential cuts facing hospitals via ACA legislation. Mahoney said through Medicaid expansion, Cox Medical Center Branson would receive roughly $1 million more in federal funding this year.