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House Medicaid Committee hears testimony on HB 130; committees reports bill 13-0
Summary
An interested-party who said he was enrolled in Medicaid without full disclosure testified before the House Medicaid Committee. After testimony and questions, the committee voted 13-0 to report HB 130 favorably to the full House.
The House Medicaid Committee on Monday heard interested-party testimony on HB 130 and voted 13-0 to report the bill favorably out of committee.
Eric Stalker testified that he encountered problems enrolling in Medicaid after being told by marketplace staff and Job and Family Services that Medicaid was "free and easy to sign up for." Stalker said he later learned about estate recovery on a renewal notice, was unable to obtain clear billing information from agencies and his assigned insurer, Molina Health Care, and was redirected between Job and Family Services and the Attorney General's Office when he sought answers. He told the committee he and his wife were charged "an average of about a thousand dollars a month" from 2019 to 2023 and estimated potential estate recovery claims could total "at least $90,000, probably more." He said he believes he was misled and urged lawmakers to act.
Chair Gross acknowledged that during the COVID-19 public-health emergency the state accepted American Rescue Plan funds and federal conditions required maintaining Medicaid enrollments for the covered period, apologized for not notifying affected enrollees, and invited suggestions for reform.
Following Stalker's testimony Vice Chair Barhorst moved that the committee favorably report HB 130 and recommend its passage. The clerk called the roll and the committee recorded 13 "Yes" votes, 0 "No" votes. Chair Gross announced the bill "passes out of the Medicaid committee" by that tally.
Stalker told the panel he had contacted the Attorney General's Office and was told he did not owe money while living but that estate recovery could be pursued after his death. Committee members praised Stalker's decision to testify in person and solicited suggestions from members of the public as the bill proceeds.
The committee did not take additional formal action on the substance of HB 130 during the hearing; the committee's vote sends the bill to the next House stage.
