The Case Will Impact the Health of Hundreds of Thousands of Families and Patients With Chronic Illnesses

Jefferson City, MO — Health and patient advocacy groups submitted an amicus curiae (or friend-of-the-court) brief today, supported by Missouri-based health economists and law professors, in the Missouri Supreme Court, noting the vital role that the implementation of expanded eligibility for Medicaid would have in the lives of hundreds of thousands of Missourians.

A group of 22 organizations submitted a brief to share with the Court how Medicaid expansion provides lifesaving health insurance coverage and why the Court must uphold this voter-approved amendment to Missouri’s constitution.

The brief shows how extending eligibility to Medicaid increases access to and use of vital health care services significantly reduces health disparities, improves survivorship for cancer and other chronic diseases, and positively affects the state economy.

A statement from the groups follows:

“Having access to health insurance is a matter of life or death for countless patients with chronic illnesses. Well-documented research has shown Medicaid expansion leads to better survival rates for chronic diseases, increased cancer screening rates and improved access to treatment. Uninsured patients are less likely than those with insurance to be screened for cancer and more likely to be diagnosed with later-stage disease, which is harder to survive and costlier to treat.

“Expanding Medicaid also makes financial sense. Under the recently passed American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA), Missouri will receive more than $1 billion in federal dollars in addition to the 90% matching rate for the expansion population if the state follows through on such lifesaving action supported by a majority of voters.

“Because of the overwhelming risks to patients with chronic illnesses and the proven consequences to Missouri families of failing to move forward with expanding this lifesaving program, the groups urge the court to honor the will of the voters and move forward with expanding eligibility for the state Medicaid program.”

Read the full brief. 

Groups included on this statement include the National Health Law Program, American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network, American Diabetes Association, CancerCare, Cancer Support Community, Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, Epilepsy Foundation, Gateway Hemophilia Association, Gilda’s Club Kansas City, Hemophilia Federation of America, March of Dimes, Midwest Hemophilia Association, NAMI Missouri, National Alliance on Mental Illness, National Coalition for Cancer Survivorship, National Hemophilia Foundation, National Multiple Sclerosis Society, National Organization for Rare Disorders, National Patient Advocate Foundation, The AIDS Institute, The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, and Prostate Network.

About the Cancer Support Community

As the largest professionally led nonprofit network of cancer support worldwide, the Cancer Support Community (CSC), including its Gilda’s Club affiliates, is dedicated to ensuring that all people impacted by cancer are empowered by knowledge, strengthened by action, and sustained by community. CSC achieves its mission through three areas: direct service delivery, research, and advocacy. The organization includes an international network of Affiliates that offer the highest quality social and emotional support for people impacted by cancer, as well as a community of support available online and over the phone. The Research and Training Institute conducts cutting-edge psychosocial, behavioral, and survivorship research. CSC furthers its focus on patient advocacy through its Cancer Policy Institute, informing public policy in Washington, D.C. and across the nation. For more information, please call the toll-free Cancer Support Helpline at 888-793-9355, or visit www.CancerSupportCommunity.org. So that no one faces cancer alone®