State Rep. Jay Barnes, R-Jefferson City, delivered a letter to Commissioner of Administration Kelvin Simmons, raising four questions about the Missouri Consolidated Health Care Plan for state employees and reductions to its budget in Gov. Jay Nixon's proposals for the 2011-12 budget year.
He asked Simmons to answer his questions about the nearly $60 million cut in the MCHCP budget between last year's $427 million appropriation and the proposed $367 million recommended in Nixon's budget request released last month.
In his response, which Barnes copied to the News Tribune, Simmons told Barnes: "We understand your concerns," then provided individual answers to each question.