Missouri’s House Budget Chairman Pleased with Progress on FRA Talks

Missouri’s House Budget Committee chair says progress has been made on a key funding mechanism for Missouri Medicaid, and he’s asking the governor to call a special session by the end of the month.

The issue involves the federal reimbursement allowance (FRA). While the Missouri House approved an extension this year, the Senate did not, because of a legislative dispute over abortion. Budget Chairman Cody Smith told Missourinet this weekend that he’s encouraged by recent progress that’s been made on renewing FRA. He describes it as an “urgent issue that the General Assembly should address before the end of this month.” Missouri’s new fiscal year begins July 1.

Democratic lawmakers have warned that Missouri faces the possibility of losing billions of dollars for Medicaid since FRA wasn’t extended.