Missouri Supreme Court Upholds Medicaid Expansion

Jim Braibish • July 26, 2021

On July 22, the Missouri Supreme Court overruled a lower court ruling and unanimously upheld Medicaid expansion for the State of Missouri.

After years of Missouri legislatures refusing to support expansion, a coalition of community health organizations helped to get the issue on the August 2020 ballot. A majority, 53%, voted in support of the initiative, extending coverage to approximately 275,000 low-income Missourians.

The ruling affirmed that “DSS has appropriation authority to provide services for all individuals eligible for MO HealthNet, including individuals eligible for coverage and services pursuant to” the amendment.

Karole Bradford, CEO of the Kansas City Medical Society Foundation, stated:

“We are thrilled that today’s ruling upholds the will of the voters to expand eligibility and help hundreds of thousands of our fellow Missourians access high-quality healthcare. Medicaid expansion will go a long way in providing increased access to services and reducing health disparities in our state.”

Learn more about the KCMS Foundation’s efforts on behalf of Medicaid expansion.

January 6, 2025
I consider it a sincere honor to serve as president of the Kansas City Medical Society this year. As we look forward to this new year, we celebrate our previous accomplishments and look for new ways to meet the challenges of our ever-changing healthcare environment. As we recognize our recent successes, I want to take the opportunity to thank Dr. Greg Unruh, our immediate past president, for his excellent leadership, and I look forward to his continued partnership, providing much-needed wisdom and experience to our board of directors as well as a leadership council. I am also deeply appreciative of Micah Flint, our executive director, now in his third year with the Society. As a board, we are prioritizing key areas where we believe the Society can make a difference for physicians and the communities we serve. With this in mind, we will continue our focus on wellness, advocacy, and expand our opportunities for in person social and educational gatherings. Our journal connects us in a variety of valuable ways, and we will continue its publication and expand its distribution. Under the directorship of Karole Bradford, the Society’s Foundation continues to do invaluable work. We celebrate those accomplishments and the charitable care they provide to our community’s vulnerable population. We are grateful for our individual members and corporate sponsors and welcome your suggestions of how the Society can best serve physicians and our community. Please mark your calendar for the Society’s upcoming events and consider inviting physician colleagues to join you as we gather to learn and support one another.
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