Missouri risks Medicaid funding over contraceptive fight

— Missouri is at risk of losing $4.5 billion in tax revenue and federal funding for Medicaid because of a fight between lawmakers over contraceptives. The Republican-led Legislature adjourned last month without reauthorizing the tax after fighting over whether to include a ban on Medicaid coverage for “any drug or device approved by the federal Food and Drug Administration that may cause the destruction of or prevent the implantation of, an unborn child.” Federal law requires Medicaid programs cover family planning. Parson said Tuesday he’s open to considering limits on certain medications in the tax renewal bill as long as it doesn’t put Missouri at risk of losing out on federal Medicaid funding. Missouri Budget Project President and CEO Amy Blouin said in a statement that losing the tax and its federal drawdown would have a “domino effect, destabilizing the entire state budget.” “The consequences of failing to renew Missouri’s provider taxes would be dire, affecting services far beyond Medicaid, and they would be felt by Missourians in every community across our state,” Blouin said. Missouri’s Democratic House Campaign Committee Chairman Peter Merideth, a St. Louis representative, in a statement said that Republicans’ proposed medication ban in the bill would “take away access to birth control for thousands of Missourians.” “Extreme right-wing Republicans are threatening the very existence of Missouri’s Medicaid system, holding the third largest source of state revenue hostage over new partisan language that will have devastating, real-world consequences,” he said.