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Senate Health & Welfare committee advances Medicaid bill that includes $22M reduction; Wintrow voices opposition
Summary
The committee voted to send H 863 to the Senate floor with a do pass recommendation despite objections that combining an audit with nearly $22 million in rate reductions could destabilize home- and community-based services.
The Senate Health & Welfare Committee voted to send H 863, a revision to Medicaid provider payment provisions that implements nearly $22 million in reductions, to the Senate floor with a do pass recommendation.
Senator Wintrow said she "could not support the motion," arguing the audit and the rate decrease "should be two separate pieces of legislation" because an immediate cut of almost $22 million risked destabilizing the program and harming responsible providers who serve people using home and community-based services. Senator Zuiderveld and supporters said the Governor requested a $22 million reduction and that the Legislature's Joint Finance-Appropriations Committee made difficult choices; Zuiderveld said the bill would create transparency and oversight while leaving home- and community-based services intact.
The motion to advance H 863 was moved by Senator Zuiderveld and seconded by Senator Shippy. After a roll-call requested by Senator Lenney, Senators Harris, Zuiderveld, Shippy, Blaylock, Acting Senator Bjerke, and Chair VanOrden voted aye; Senators Lenney, Keyser, and Wintrow voted nay. The motion carried.
The committee record shows the action to send H 863 to the floor as a do pass recommendation; no further testimony was taken at the committee meeting. The bill now proceeds to the next stage of the Senate process.
