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Committee advances bill to allow presumptive Medicaid eligibility for pregnant women
Summary
The committee gave HB 89 a favorable report to extend presumptive Medicaid eligibility to pregnant women so they can begin prenatal care earlier; sponsors told senators the change would largely draw on federal funds and would not represent new long-term spending.
A committee member presented HB 89 as a previously passed Senate bill concerning presumptive eligibility for pregnancy under Medicaid. Committee members asked whether the $1 million annual fiscal note represented new spending. The presenter said much of the fiscal impact would be federal funds and that the change allows eligible pregnant women to begin prenatal care sooner rather than waiting through the standard eligibility determination process.
Senator Weaver asked whether the funds were new draws or existing federal funds; the presenter and Senator Stutz explained that most people who would qualify are already eligible for Medicaid and that presumptive eligibility allows providers to begin care and then the state to retroactively cover services that would otherwise be payable under Medicaid. “All this is intended to do is get the patient in the office quicker,” one committee speaker said.
After brief questions and a motion using a previous roll (with two additional senators added to the roll), the committee chair announced the bill was given a favorable report and advanced.
Votes at a glance: HB 89 — committee action: favorable report; outcome: advanced from committee.
