Preserving care for disabled
Anthony Brown
Rep. Allen Andrews
As I have previously mentioned, we are working hard to find solutions to the ever-increasing cost of nursing and in-home services to our most vulnerable citizens. Three weeks ago Senate and House leadership tasked their members with developing a solution to preserve in-home and nursing care for disabled Missourians who are impacted by a change in the point system that determines eligibility. Now, House Budget Chairman Scott Fitzpatrick and Senator Mike Cunningham are close to unveiling a solution that will be presented to the House and Senate within the next two weeks.
A little history: On the last day of the 2017 legislative session, legislation was approved by the House in an attempt to preserve nursing and in-home care services for some of Missouri’s most vulnerable citizens. In the days leading up to the conclusion of the session, House and Senate members had worked to find a solution that would keep the vital services intact. The House had passed a version of the bill that would end a property tax credit in order to generate funds that would be used to protect the existing level of service. The Senate countered by passing a version of the bill that would raise the funds by “sweeping” the unexpended monies from several state funds associated with regulatory boards and commissions.
With the Senate being unwilling to negotiate and no other options on the table, the House then approved the Senate solution and sent it to the governor’s desk. The governor then vetoed the bill calling it a “one-time gimmick” that drained funds from programs to prevent child abuse and neglect, assist injured workers, and to train police officers and firefighters. As the legislature did not have enough votes to override the governor’s veto during the annual Veto Session, House and Senate leaders tasked Fitzpatrick and Cunningham to develop a bipartisan solution to the problem.
House Speaker Todd Richardson and Senate Leader Ron Richard asked the House and Senate to develop a solution within a three-week timeframe that would preserve in-home and nursing care for disabled Missourians. They also asked the legislators to find a way to restore provider rate cuts, including cuts to private duty nurses who administer in-home neonatal care. I will keep you updated as we finalize the details of the plan.
As always, it is an honor to serve you.
Allen Andrews, State Rep. – District 1, Missouri State Capitol, 201 West Capitol Avenue, Jefferson City, MO 65101. Telephone: 573-751-9465, [email protected]
Allen Andrews is the First District State Representative.
