Missouri Demands Medicaid Copay in the ED—But Not in Urgent Care

Medicaid patients in Missouri will have to fork over an $8 copay before receiving care in the emergency room, thanks to a new bill that aims to reduce overusage in the ED. The bill allows for free visits to urgent care centers, however. Senate Bill 608 also gives physician offices the right to assess Medicaid patients a $5 penalty if they make a habit of missing appointments without 24-hours’ notice; miss an appointment once and there’s no fee, but the second will cost patients $10, and $20 for each missed appointment after that. That aspect of the bill is intended to cut Medicaid costs.