January 9, 2006

The Missouri General Assembly began the 2006 legislative session on Wednesday.

The House Speaker Rod Jetton and Senate President Pro Tem Gibbons made their opening addresses to their respective chambers regarding legislative initiatives. Majority Republicans in the State Senate say they want to build a stronger state on the foundation of reforms passed last year. Senate Leader Mike Gibbons of Kirkwood has a handful of issues on which he wants quick Senate action. They include a state energy policy and more money for schools. As for schools, Democrats say the state is still far from fully funding the formula or finding a source for the money. Republicans say the state has to act quickly to solve energy problems. Democrats say Republicans created more energy problems last year when they passed a pro-utility regulation bill.

House Speaker Rod Jetton defends Medicaid cuts pushed through last year by Republicans, saying they saved the program without harming the state's poorest residents. Jetton proposes restoring a portion of the disabled workers program cut last year - a proposal the leading Democrat, Jeff Harris, applauds as a move in the right direction. But Harris says Jetton's proposal focuses too much on Sheltered Workshops and leaves out hundreds of disabled workers who have been forced to quit jobs to keep public health benefits.

Republicans continue to control both the legislative and executive branches of government. The 2006 political landscape remains essentially the same as in 2005, with 96 Republicans, 64 Democrats and three vacancies in the House of Representatives and 22 Republicans, 11 Democrats and one vacancy in the Senate.

Both Jetton and Gibbons claimed the following points of success for 2005:

• increased dollars for education and a new foundation formula

• a better economy with more jobs

• increased protection for families through improved laws against methamphetamine production and drunk driving

• a budget balanced without a tax increase

Regarding goals for 2006, both remarked on the difficulty of achieving significant reform on any issue in an election year.

State Senate Committee to Investigate Medicaid Provider Fraud
Missouri Senate President Pro Tem Michael Gibbons has appointed a Special Committee to Investigate Medicaid Fraud. The committee will focus on fraud perpetrated by Medicaid providers and develop legislative recommendations.

Senate leaders indicated recent articles in TheKansas City Star sparked the inquiry into Medicaid provider fraud.

Sen. Chris Koster, R-Harrisonville, a former Cass County prosecutor, will chair the committee. Other committee members are Sens. Jason Crowell, R-Cape Girardeau; Rob Mayer, R-Dexter; Maida Coleman, D-St. Louis City; and Yvonne Wilson, D-Kansas City. Committee hearings are expected to begin later this month.

In its deliberations, the committee is likely to discuss creating a state Civil False Claims Act modeled after the federal antifraud law of the same name. Federal legislation slated for final approval later this month gives states financial incentives to enact their own civil false claims laws. These laws allow private citizens with information about alleged fraud involving state funds to join in the state’s recovery lawsuit and receive a share of monies recovered.

Legislative Issues Addressed

 Seniors Health
Governor Matt Blunt and Lieutenant Governor Peter Kinder have unveiled two proposals aimed at helping Missouri's senior citizens. One initiative calls for an additional $400,000 for the Missouri Rx prescription drug program. That money would be used to set up a panel to better inform seniors of their options. The second would increase spending for the Meals-on-Wheels program by $600,000. Blunt and Kinder say the two programs are examples of how the state can help its most vulnerable citizens.

Health Care
On the subject of health care, Jetton suggested two goals:

• reinstate and reform the Medical Assistance for Workers with Disabilities program

• pass meaningful insurance reform, particularly medical malpractice insurance

Gibbons also raised health care as an issue. He praised the Missouri Medicaid Reform Commission’s final report and highlighted some of its objectives and proposed reforms.

• All the people of Missouri should have available, affordable health care.

• The central focus of health care should change to keeping people healthy and preventing illness rather than only treating them when they are sick.

• Move to electronic medical records and e-prescribing.

• Fight fraud and abuse in the health care system.

Gibbons also mentioned the newly created Senate committee on healthcare provider fraud that will begin meeting later this month.

Budget
Gibbons and Jetton were optimistic regarding the growth of Missouri’s general revenue budget. Gibbons remarked that the state’s general revenue is growing at a rate nearly double what was hoped for last spring. Jetton was more specific, stating “this year we’re at a 4.9 percent growth rate, which is well above the one percent growth rate we need to meet the growth in the budget.”

 Next Week
The Governor will deliver his state of the state unveiling his initiatives and plans for the state budget.

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