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Rules Committee restores dental coverage in medical assistance program; Democrats and Republicans split on cost
Summary
The House Rules Committee reported House Bill 5 83 (printers number 5 93) to restore dental coverage within the medical assistance program. The bill passed on a party‑line split, with Democrats voting aye (18) and Republicans voting nay (15).
Chair Bradford, chair of the House Rules Committee, moved to report a bill described on the record as restoring dental coverage within the medical assistance program. The committee debated the measure briefly before taking a roll call vote.
A committee member said, “this particular piece of legislation that will carry an additional cost into the future. And with ongoing budget negotiations, Republicans will be in the negative.” The chair then called for further discussion; seeing none, the secretary called the roll.
The secretary announced, “The all Democrats vote in the affirmative. Republicans in the negative. The ayes are 18. The nays are 15. The bill passes, and we are adjourned.”
Why it matters: the motion would restore dental benefits for recipients of the medical assistance program, a change with direct fiscal implications for the state budget and direct service implications for program beneficiaries.
Discussion vs. decision: the excerpted debate was limited to a single committee member’s statement about anticipated cost and budget negotiations; no fiscal note, appropriation amounts, timelines for implementation, or implementing regulations were discussed on the record in the provided transcript. The formal decision was to report the bill to the floor, with the committee vote recorded 18 in favor and 15 opposed.
