JEFFERSON CITY — The Missouri House has begun debate on a plan that could expand government-subsidized health care to low-income Missourians who have difficulty getting insurance.
The House debate on the bill Tuesday night fulfilled a pledge made by legislative leaders last week when they passed a budget setting aside $147 million for a potential health care expansion.
The funding is contingent on the House, Senate and Gov. Jay Nixon ultimately agreeing on a health care plan.
Nixon has proposed an expansion of the Medicaid program to cover custodial parents earning up to 50 percent of the poverty level.
The Senate has passed a bill creating a new government program to cover the same pool of people.
The House plan would cover a smaller subset of low-income adults through the state's existing high-risk insurance pool.