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The Republican-led House Majority rejected another effort by minority Democrats to implement Medicaid expansion through the state’s operating budget. Democrats offered an amendment to accept some $145 million in federal funds to offer Medicaid coverage, made available through the federal Affordable Care Act, to an estimated 40,000 poor and uninsured Alaskans. The amendment was the second of 20 amendments Democrats were expected to offer in a marathon floor session on the operating budget. (Buxton, 3/12)

Thursday's debate was also dominated by the Republican majority's refusal to expand Medicaid. State Rep. Margo McNeil, D-Hazelwood, accused GOP leaders of shortchanging Missouri's infrastructure, schools and health services by not expanding Medicaid. "It's no surprise that Missouri is not moving forward with economic development like some of our surrounding states," McNeil said. "We have depressed our economic development through our decisions in this body." State Rep. Scott Fitzpatrick, R-Shell Knob, argued that Missouri wouldn't be guaranteed its share of federal dollars if Medicaid were expanded. (Griffin, 3/12)

Two senior Senate Democrats introduced a bill Thursday that would boost payments to Medicaid doctors to equal those paid to Medicare doctors. Sens. Patty Murray (D-Wash.) and Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio) are hoping to extend a provision of ObamaCare that expired last year that ensures equal payments to all providers. (Ferris, 3/12)

Gov. John Kasich’s plan to give primary-care doctors serving Medicaid patients a $156 million rate increase over the next two years would come largely from the pockets of other physicians. The Ohio State Medical Association has urged state lawmakers to reject the governor’s budget plan to finance the rate increase by reducing reimbursements to doctors treating patients covered by both Medicaid and Medicare, so-called dual eligibles. Instead, the association is asking for both rates to be increased. (Candisky, 3/13)