JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. — Some Missouri Republicans have adamantly opposed expanding Medicaid to low-income adults by tapping into billions of federal dollars under President Barack Obama's health care law.
Yet support has been quietly growing among some of those same Republicans for a mini Medicaid expansion.
Some Republicans are teaming up with Democrats to back a proposal that would double the amount of assets people could have without being disqualified for Medicaid coverage. The change is projected to expand Medicaid coverage to nearly 8,200 elderly and disabled residents at an eventual annual cost of around $160 million in combined federal and state funds.
Missouri's asset limits haven't changed since 1968. Individuals are capped at $1,000 of assets and married couples at $2,000.
A Senate committee has endorsed two bills to raise the asset limits.