Ex-Sen. Bond makes case for Medicaid expansion

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) -- Former Republican Sen. Kit Bond is citing problems with the federal health care law as a reason to embrace one of its key provisions by expanding Medicaid coverage.

Bond was part of panel discussion Tuesday about Medicaid hosted by the Missouri Chamber of Commerce and Industry. The former longtime U.S. senator has been hired by the chamber to lobby Republican state lawmakers who have repeatedly defeated a Medicaid expansion.

He said Medicaid expansion would draw additional federal dollars, thus helping to offset federal funding cuts due to hit hospitals that treat uninsured patients.

Bond said Medicaid expansion can be paired with "reforms" that model the program on the private sector and require participants to pay more out of pocket.

Some Republican lawmakers have cited concerns about its long-term costs.