Columbia leaders push lawmakers to expand Medicaid

“Imagine having to decide between filling your medicines and buying groceries for your kids. I can tell you that Medicaid saves lives,” said Dr. Andrew Quint, Medical Director at the Family Health Center.

Columbia leaders are once again pushing Jefferson City lawmakers to expand Medicaid.

They had a news conference renewing their call to accept the federal dollars Tuesday.

However, for the last two years, officials said the legislature failed to act.

Columbia’s mayor said if the U.S. government paid $400 million to improve roads, state leaders wouldn’t have a problem.

He also pointed out most of it is local taxpayer money.

“From a logical standpoint, and it does not appear logical to me, that if the federal government offered $400 million in funding for improving roads that we would decline that money we would certainly accept that money, it’s money we’ve sent to the federal government,” said McDavid.

McDavid said because lawmakers still haven’t expanded the service, they’ve nearly cost 500,000 people health care statewide.