The Missouri House of Representatives held a hearing on House Joint Resolution 154, a proposal to put MO HealthNet Work Requirements in the state Constitution – and keep them there even if the federal government repeals the requirements.
Representative Darin Chapell (R – Rogersville) claims that those needing health care must have their feet held to the fire. No watching daytime TV, get out there and work!
Despite a lot of opposition to HJR 154 at its hearing, well, it has legs.
The proposal is pretty clear:
Mo applicable individual shall be enrolled in MO HealthNet unless, at the time of application, the individual demonstrates compliance with work requirements for three consecutive months immediately preceding the month during which the individual applies.
No applicable individual shall remain enrolled in MO HealthNet in any month unless the individual has demonstrated compliance with work requirements;
This being Missouri, if this gets on this November’s ballot, as proposed, it will prevail with almost 60% of the vote.
So, as we’ve discussed before, the highest hill to climb with work requirements is the state’s timely processing of information. Experience in other states shows it takes two staff hours a month to correctly update an account.
I want to be helpful. Here are some suggestions for additions to the possible amendment which could make it easier for Missouri to meet its own rules…
- Every Missouri employer must have pay periods which are always contained within one calendar month. No bi-weekly paychecks. A check can’t cover, say, January 25th to February 7th.
- Every Missouri worker gets a printed check stub with hours worked, pay rate and employer contact information.
- Every paycheck will have included, in bold lettering, SAVE THIS DOCUMENT FOR AT LEAST ONE YEAR. YOU MUST HAVE THIS RECORD AVAILABLE FOR STATE ENFORCEMENT.
- Failure to comply subjects employers to a fine of $10,000 per worker, per offense. Failure to immediately comply with a state request for information will be also subject to fine.
- The Department of Social Service will have as its top priority processing work requirement reports. Taking applications for food stamps or processing health claims can be done after the work requirement reports are finished. Necessary staff to insure timely processing will be hired.
If these suggestions get included in the amendment a few non-patriotic employers might complain. Missouri, of course, would be free to share with the public which employers don’t want to honor a constitutional requirement and object to people being held accountable for being poor.
Alas, some workers who qualify for MO HealthNet will still lose health care due to bureaucratic or employer stumbles. Adding a few additions to Rep. Chappell’s amendment could help reduce the carnage.
Glenn Koenen