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Support for Medicaid on the rise among Missouri voters

Close to two-thirds of Missouri voters show support of Medicaid implementation. Since voters decided last August to expand Medicaid in Missouri, nearly 1 in 5 who previously opposed it now support the implementation, the Missouri Hospital Association says.

Support for Medicaid is experiencing a shift among Missourians, more of the state’s residents showing support of its implementation in 2020.

In Missouri nearly two-thirds of voters favored implementation in August 2020. With the vote, Missouri adopted a constitutional amendment on Medicaid implementation.

Research on Missouri voters’ attitudes on Medicaid expansion was conducted by American Viewpoint in the first week of January 2021, according to the Missouri Hospital Association. The survey included 800 Missouri voters.

Survey participants were asked whether they agreed or disagreed with the following statement, “With Missouri voters having passed Medicaid expansion in August and the state’s Constitution requiring the legislature to implement this change by July 1, regardless of their personal opinion, it is each legislator’s sworn duty to listen to the will of voters and implement the expansion.”

Results showed 88 percent of those surveyed indicated it was lawmakers’ duty to implement expansion.

Participants also indicated Medicaid expansion would deliver benefits for rural hospitals and health care, 86 percent agreeing lawmakers should consider rural health as a reason for moving forward.