Chuck Hatfield Archives

Missouri Supreme Court rules Legislature unconstitutionally stripped Medicaid funding to Planned Parenthood

June 30, 2020 By Alisa Nelson

The state Supreme Court has ruled today the Missouri Legislature violated the Constitution when lawmakers blocked Medicaid funding to Planned Parenthood. The Republican-controlled General Assembly’s budget writing tactic has defunded the organization more than $1 million since 2018. In the 6-1 high court decision, Judge Zel Fischer was the only one siding with the state in the case.

Missouri Supreme Court rules Legislature unconstitutionally stripped Medicaid funding to Planned Parenthood

During a December court hearing about the case, attorney Chuck Hatfield, who represented Planned Parenthood, said Republican lawmakers do not want to give funding to doctors affiliated with Planned Parenthood. He said the Legislature cannot pick and choose which Medicaid providers it is going to give the funding to.

Missouri Solicitor General D. John Sauer argued that lawmakers went by the book.

Planned Parenthood has 11 clinics in Missouri, but the St. Louis location is the only one that provides abortions. The locations offer other services to low-income Missourians, including birth control and cancer, diabetes, high blood pressure and cholesterol screenings.

Missouri Medicaid expansion effort escapes election ballot removal attempt

June 9, 2020 By Alisa Nelson

The Missouri Supreme Court has rejected a request to have a Medicaid expansion court case transferred to the high court. The decision ends an attempt by conservative group Americans for Prosperity to get the issue kicked off the August primary election ballot.

Missouri Medicaid expansion effort escapes election ballot removal attempt

The organization, along with United for Missouri, filed lawsuits contending the measure unconstitutionally requires the state to spend money without providing a revenue stream to pay for it.

Americans for Prosperity-Missouri State Director Jeremy Cady issued the following statement:

“The Western District Court of Appeals clearly held that the Medicaid Expansion Initiative on the August ballot does – and could – not infringe upon the Legislature’s exclusive right to set spending priorities through the appropriation process, and took its proponents at their word that Amendment 2 of the Missouri Constitution would not do so. While this was not the decision we were seeking, the rationale underlying the Court’s decision, that the separation of powers will be respected, should be viewed as a win for Missourians.”

Healthcare for Missouri’s plan would let Missourians earning up to $18,000 annually qualify for state-funded health insurance – increasing the state’s Medicaid rolls by about 230,000.

Attorney Chuck Hatfield, who’s representing the pro-expansion side, tells Missourinet he believes the courts have made the correct decision.

“An issue like expanding healthcare is a matter for the voters and the Court should not stop the voters from having their say at the ballot box,” he says in a written statement.

Missouri is one of 14 states without Medicaid expansion.