TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — The Medicaid program in Kansas would gain more control over costly mental health prescriptions under a bill facing a final vote in the state Senate.

The Lawrence Journal-World reports  that Wednesday’s vote was coming a day after senators debated the measure and gave it first-round approval.

Supports said the bill would give patients more protection from the over-prescription of powerful drugs with serious side effects. Critics argued the change could deprive mentally ill Kansans of needed medication and result in more of them being hospitalized or jailed.

The bill would repeal a 2002 law that prohibits Medicaid from controlling prescriptions of mental health drugs with preferred drug lists, prior authorization requirements or other methods. Medicaid provides health coverage for the needy and disabled.