After
an 8-hour session Tuesday, the State Senate voted 20-18 to approve the S-9
substitute for House
Bill 4714, extending Medicaid coverage to some 470,000 Michiganders.
Prior
to the addressing 4714, the Senate first debated and voted on Senate
Bill 422, the alternative proposal offered by Senator Bruce Caswell
(R-Hillsdale). The proposal was defeated by a 9-29 vote. The other alternative,
offered by Senator Patrick Colbeck (R-Canton Township) in the form of Senate
Bills 459 and 460
advanced from General Orders to Third Reading, however, was not voted on.
The
first vote on 4714 came with significant drama as Senator Tom Casperson
(R-Escanaba) voted “no,” somewhat unexpectedly, putting the tally of “yes”
votes at 19. Realizing the measure would need Lt. Governor Brian Calley’s
tie-breaking vote to pass, Senator Colbeck abstained from voting completely,
putting the final number at 19-18. The Lt. Governor can only vote in the case
of a 19-19 tie.
Following
more than two hours of recess and multiple Republican caucus meetings, the
second vote on the measure was taken and it passed 20-18, with Senator Colbeck
voting “no” this time, and Senator Casperson voting “yes.” An amendment was
made to the bill regarding the rate a facility that participates in Medicaid
can charge an uninsured individual. The amendment states that a facility can
charge up to 115 percent of the Medicare rate for care provided to an uninsured
individual with an income up to 250 percent of the federal poverty level. Prior
to the amendment, the bill contained an income of 133 percent of the federal
poverty level.
In
addition to all 12 Democrats, 8 Republicans ultimately voted “yes.” They were
Senators Casperson, Goeff Hansen (R-Hart), Roger Kahn (R-Saginaw), Mike Kowall
(R-White Lake Township), Jim Marleau (R-Lake Orion), Randy Richardville
(R-Monroe), Tory Rocca (R-Sterling Heights), and Howard Walker (R-Traverse
City).