Committee approves measure to create Medicaid-funded platform for direct care workers; vote 4–3
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Summary
House Bill 13‑28 passed the Senate Appropriations Committee 4–3. Sponsors said the platform is tied to Medicaid because most covered workers provide services to Medicaid patients; committee members asked whether direct care workers themselves are Medicaid-eligible and about recruitment risks.
The Senate Appropriations Committee on House Bill 13‑28 voted 4–3 to advance a bill authorizing a platform intended for direct care workers and funded in part through Medicaid.
Senator Kirkmeyer asked whether the direct care workers who would use the platform are themselves Medicaid-eligible and whether there was any recruitment risk. Senator Bridges, speaking for the sponsors, replied, “No. We're not. These folks work for Medicaid. They're paid by Medicaid,” and said there is a clear nexus between the platform and Medicaid patients. The sponsor explained that the platform would draw down federal Medicaid funds because the services covered by the platform are provided to Medicaid patients.
The transcript shows a roll-call vote recorded by the committee clerk: the bill passed 4–3 and will move forward. Questions from senators during the hearing focused on eligibility and the funding mechanism; sponsors emphasized the Medicaid connection and said HICPUF (as stated in the transcript) would be involved in creating and funding the platform through Medicaid support.
Committee members who supported the bill said the connection to Medicaid made the funding and eligibility rationale clear; those who opposed recorded no or negative votes in the 4–3 tally. The transcript does not include final implementation details or a full fiscal breakdown in the excerpt provided.