Lawmakers miss deadline on Medicaid bill

The Sun Herald, 4/15/8

Lawmakers missed a legislative deadline to pass a Medicaid bill that funded the program and eliminated the face-to-face meetings people must attend to keep the health coverage.

The bill was stymied on Monday in the Senate, where Lt. Gov. Phil Bryant accepted a procedural challenge to the bill.

The House passed the bill 92-23. The Senate’s inaction on the bill by the midnight deadline sets the stage for a possible special session or may force lawmakers to extend the regular session that is scheduled to end on Saturday.

The bill would have funded Medicaid for the fiscal year that begins July 1.