That’s A Wrap: Session Recap Pieces come together for MDA under unprecedented circumstances
by JORGEN SCHLEMEIER N
ever experienced a legislative session like this before, and hope to never experience another un- der these conditions. I suspect
each of you share the sentiment regarding your individual practices, and so the first thing I want to say is I wish good health to you and your family, and that your practice is once again operating safely and prosperously.
The Missouri Legislature adjourned on Friday, May 15 for the year … maybe. While the constitution dictated the May 15, 6pm stop time, the Governor has indicated several times since May 18 that he may invoke his authority to bring the legislature back into session for a few key items. He wants to first, better assess the economic conditions of the state in early summer; second, determine if the federal government will pass Stimulus IV; and, finally, if an agreement can be reached prior to gathering in Jefferson City so the “special” (technically known as the Extraordi- nary Session) can run efficiently and quickly.
If all indicators lead him to call a special session, then I believe a few issues, possibly more, will be included in “The Call”, a docu- ment outlining what may be debated during the special session. These include:
• A supplemental budget bill giving the Governor the authority to spend Stimulus IV money—likely to be used to backfill cuts made during the regular appropriation process or announced as withhold due to the shortage of state generated revenue (non-stimulus funds);
• Enacting an online sales tax to collect state revenues that would otherwise be automatically collected had the shopper purchased the product from a local mer- chant, and alleviate some of the price gap between the local retailer and online
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merchant; and,
• Probably the most discussed item among health care providers and busi- ness organizations—a C-19 liability reduction act, to convey additional, rea- sonable protections to businesses/health care providers for C-19 related actions or inactions (delayed procedures). While this bill was discussed at the end of ses- sion, and we pushed some liability relief, the trial attorneys said that because the legislature already passed a tort bill this year, they would not allow the C-19 lia- bility reform bill to progress unless they received concessions on the other tort package. I don’t believe an agreement can be reached with that group prior to a special session commencing; however, we are asking for some leniency on the unofficial rule that an agreement needs to be reached prior to being included in “the call” by the Governor. His office has been very good about working with our coalition on this issue.
The Governor has his work cut out for him to balance the state’s finances. As you may recall, the state cannot borrow money like many of our neighbors to operate the state, therefore he must withhold funding to ensure the state does not bounce a check. He has announced some very difficult decisions, including cutting elementary, secondary and higher education funding. The race is on to see if we, the state, receive enough revenue from the economy rolling again or the Feds sending us additional relief funds to backfill what the state cannot generate on its own to pay its bills. If the answer is no more Fed funds, then more cuts are on the way. Does that put provider rates in harm’s way? Maybe, although I believe provider rates are further down the list, as our rates draw a high per- centage match from the Feds—that, in order to save one state dollar, the governor would have to cut $3 from a provider rate. Taking $3 out of the economy to save $1 is not a great trade at the moment.
