By Marshall Griffin, KWMU
Jefferson City, MO – One of Missouri Governor Matt Blunt's key legislative priorities this year appears to be in jeopardy.
Blunt's Insure Missouri program was to have begun in March.
But due to opposition led by fellow Republican and State House Member Rob Schaaf, implementation has been delayed until July first, assuming it passes at all.
Nancy Gondor is spokesman for Governor Blunt.
"We certainly don't want to begin a program that might not continue after three months...that wouldn't be fair to the participants," Gondor said.
The program would have provided health coverage to more than 54,000 low-income Missouri residents during its first phase, if it had begun next month as scheduled.
"(Gov. Blunt) has decided to continue working with the legislature to build consensus for Insure Missouri, and the hope is that this program will get passed by the legislature and could start on July 1," Gondor said.
Representative Schaaf (R, St. Joseph) chairs the Special Committee on Healthcare Transformation, and is also a physician.
KWMU was not able to reach him today.
However, at the start of hearings last month into Insure Missouri, Schaaf had expressed concerns about the potential of escalating costs and lack of legislative oversight.