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Senate amends SB34 to exempt HMO Medicaid benefits; sponsors debate scope and fiscal impact
Summary
Senate moved a second substitute to the top of the second‑reading calendar for amendment and approved a two‑line amendment from Senator Butters to exempt HMO benefits tied to Medicaid, a change sponsors said would materially affect the bill's fiscal note.
Senate members returned the second substitute of Senate Bill 34 (an access reform measure) to the second‑reading calendar so Senator Butters could offer a brief, two‑line amendment to exempt health maintenance organization benefits that have a Medicaid program connection from the bill's effect.
The clerk read the second substitute and Senators debated the amendment. Opponents argued the bill's basic premise — that people with coverage should be able to see any doctor they choose — would naturally include Medicaid recipients, while proponents of the amendment said removing Medicaid would substantially change the fiscal note and scope of coverage. "I'm taking Medicaid out... It'll have a dramatic effect on the fiscal note," Senator Butters said when offering the change.
Senator Bramble opposed the amendment on policy grounds, arguing the bill aims to guarantee broad access. After limited debate the body approved the amendment and later circled the bill for further review. The transcript records that the motion to amend passed by voice vote and that the bill as amended was circled.
Next steps: The amendment was placed into the substitute and the bill was circled so members could examine the revised fiscal note and text before further floor action.
