Blunt Hasn’t Decided on Special Session…Yet

Governor Blunt has yet to receive the assurances he demands before he calls a special session to address Medicaid issues and time is running out for a decision to be made. Blunt says he’s not eager to call a special legislation sesson, but tells the Missourinet he’s willing to do so if the House is willing to move from its position opposing Medicaid fraud legislation. Blunt agrees with the House that the state needs to revive a smaller version of the MAWD program, the Medical Assistance for Workers with Disabilities program, but he doesn’t believe that the absence of the MAWD program is a big enough issue to warrant a special session. He points out the funding for the new MAWD program is in the budget. The legislature can approve legislation early in the next regular session which begins in January . Blunt says he will make a decision soon, because if there is to be a special session, he wants it to run concurrently with the Veto Session that begins September 13th. He’s not pleased with arguments made to a special House committee that tough Medicaid fraud legislation will drive doctors from the program. Blunt says the bill approved by the Senate in the regular session targetted real abuse, not mistakes with paperwork. And he says the experience of other states doesn’t back the critics’ arguments. He says states that have passed tough fraud legislation haven’t seen doctors leave the Medicaid program. Blunt says he’s hopeful the House will move enough on the issue to trigger the call for a special session.