Parson veto on emergency system funding ‘potentially putting lives at risk’

After reviewing the state budget passed by the Legislature, Gov. Mike Parson line-item vetoed $153,000 of funding for an emergency system focused on patients suffering serious injuries.

“The veto that we saw was way premature, and potentially putting lives at risk,” said Rep. Kip Kendrick (D- Columbia). “The governor did not provide any explanation of the line-item vetoes.”

“Really hoping we can resolve things through communication, but if not, we do have the ability to overturn the veto,” said Rep. Sara Walsh (R-Ashland).

The Time Critical Diagnosis System, which bears the slogan “Minutes Matter, focuses treating trauma, stroke, and heart attack patients by connecting emergency dispatchers with accredited hospitals.

In a statement, the governor’s office said they “have a viable plan to move forward with the intent to find a more stable, long-term funding source than operating from general revenue.”

“The services provided by the Time-Critical Diagnosis System are not going away,” Parson’s office added. However, Kendrick, the ranking minority member of the House Budget Committee, said that claim confused committee members.

“(Gov. Parson’s office is) saying the program is going to continue, but there is no line in the budget, and there is no full time employees to administer the program,” Kendrick said. “At one point, I think (budget chair Scott Fitzpatrick) explained it’s kind of like a twilight zone. And it was. Like, what’s going on?”

The $153,000 cut is out of the Department of Health’s $1.4 billion budget.

The House and Senate will have the opportunity to overturn Parson’s vetoes during the veto session in September.