Missouri GOP state senators poised to nix Medicaid expansion

In addition, reports offer insights into how the debate over the health law's Medicaid expansion is playing out in Tennessee and Ohio.

St. Louis Beacon: State Senators To Nixon: No Deal On Medicaid Expansion This Session
One week after discussing Medicaid expansion with House Republicans, Gov. Jay Nixon will sit down Tuesday morning with Republican members of the Missouri Senate to talk about the issue. But the meeting may not go too smoothly. On Monday, the top Republican in the Missouri Senate indicated that Medicaid expansion may be dead for the session (Rosenbaum, 4/8).

Kansas Health Institute: Nearly Half Of Psychiatric Beds Could Be Cut Without Medicaid Expansion
Missouri could lose more than 40 percent of its hospital-based adult psychiatric beds if state lawmakers decide against expanding Medicaid, the director of the Missouri Department of Mental Health said Friday. Keith Schafer estimated that hospitals would eliminate roughly 500 adult psychiatric beds if the General Assembly does not expand Medicaid eligibility to 138 percent. The issue is pending before lawmakers (Sherry, 4/8).

The Associated Press: Faith Leaders Urge Use Of Medicaid Money In Tenn.
Faith leaders from across Tennessee gathered at the Capitol on Monday to speak out for the poor, while the governor and lawmakers consider initiatives affecting health insurance and welfare benefits. About 15 clergy delivered 133 baskets of loaves and paper fish to the offices of each legislator and Republican Gov. Bill Haslam, urging them to accept $1.4 billion in Medicaid money if the federal government doesn't approve an alternate plan for Medicaid expansion in Tennessee (Johnson, 4/8).

The Associated Press: Ohio House To Drop Medicaid Expansion
A Republican-controlled legislative panel will drop Gov. John Kasich's proposal to expand the Medicaid program from the state's two-year budget plan, The Associated Press has learned, as advocates for extending the health care coverage to thousands more low-income Ohioans prepared to rally against the move (Smyth and Sanner, 4/9).