The bill, sponsored by Missouri Sen. David Sater (R), would have allowed Medicaid providers to impose a fee on Missouri HealthNet patients who miss an appointment or fail to cancel with at least 24 hours notice. It would also allow physicians to refuse to schedule new appointments until the missed appointment fee is paid, according to the report.
The charge would have been $5 for the first missed appointment, $10 for the second and $20 for the third.
The bill was part of a package of healthcare-related legislation passed by the state’s Republican-led legislature this spring, according to the report. Included in the package is a separate proposal requiring Medicaid beneficiaries to pay an $8 co-payment fee when they seek non-emergency care at a hospital emergency room, according to the report.
Supporters argue the proposals could save the state money by avoiding lost revenue and time caused by missed appointments and reducing utilization of emergency services. However, Gov. Nixon said the bills would harm the poor.
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