Lawmakers work to protect region's health lab

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- Discussions on the state budget are often in terms of hundreds of millions of dollars. For a group of Bootheel lawmakers, the key figure has been a mere $125,000.

That's the amount they successfully plugged into the proposed $18.64 billion state operating budget for the coming year in order to protect the State Public Health Laboratory in Poplar Bluff, which the Department of Health and Senior Services wants to close.

The lab tests for contamination in water samples collected throughout the region.

"It's not a lot of money to keep a lab open that serves all of Southeast Missouri," said state Rep. Gayle Kingery, R-Poplar Bluff.

The House of Representatives on Wednesday gave final approval to the 12 appropriations bills that make up the state budget for the fiscal year beginning July 1. The measures now head to the Senate for further action. Republicans control both chambers.

State appropriations would increase by $810.4 million -- 4.6 percent -- over what lawmakers originally approved for the current fiscal year.

The health department wants to consolidate the functions performed at the Poplar Bluff lab and another in Springfield into its primary lab in Jefferson City.

Department spokeswoman Nanci Gonder said the agency is concerned about maintaining those regional labs when the House proposes cutting funding for the main lab by $147,000.

"We believe we can do water testing as efficiently and effectively at our main Jefferson City facility," Gonder said.

State Rep. Otto Bean, R-Holcomb, said the Poplar Bluff lab provides rapid results when the quality of a water source is questioned. Transporting those samples to the state capital could cost precious time and potentially put Southeast Missourians at risk of illness.

"Just 24 hours could make a big difference," Bean said.

Another area facility at risk of closure was the Cottonwood Children's Residential Treatment Center in Cape Girardeau. Democratic Gov. Bob Holden eliminated the center's funding as part of his effort to balance the state budget.

Area lawmakers, working with the governor, developed a plan to allow Cottonwood to be eligible for federal reimbursements through Medicaid, reducing its reliance on state money. A little more than one third of Cottonwood's $2.27 million appropriation would come from federal funds.

The 32-bed residential treatment center serves children ages 6 to 17 who have behavioral and emotional problems.

In debate on the overall budget, Democrats complained of Republican proposals that would make it tougher for needy residents to qualify for Medicaid and a companion state health insurance benefit for children. As many as 48,000 Missourians would be cut from the Medicaid rolls while an estimated 20,000 children would lose state-provided health-care coverage.

"I think it is a shame this is happening," said state Rep. Terry Swinger, D-Caruthersville. "We've been able to find money for everything except the poor."

Republicans countered, however, by noting that their plan would boost total appropriations for the Department of Social Services by $540.4 million -- a 9.7 percent increase. The large growth at the department is driven largely by mandatory spending programs, such as Medicaid. The department's budget would increase to $6.1 billion under the House proposal and account for roughly one third of all state spending.

The bills are HB 1001 through HB 1012.

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