Utah Governor Signs Plan To Minimize Voter-Approved Medicaid Expansion, Offering Road Map To Other Red States
"I think we're doing the long-term responsible thing," said state Sen. Allen Christensen, the bill's lead sponsor. But there was an outcry from critics who said the Legislature was ignoring the wishes of the voters. "This is a dark day for democracy in Utah," said Andrew Roberts, a spokesman for the group Utah Decides. The lawmakers' moves will likely act as an example to other red states for how they can avoid being pushed into an uncontrolled expansion.
Modern Healthcare:
Other States Likely To Follow Utah's Partial Medicaid Expansion
The Utah Legislature on Monday passed a bill to replace the voter-approved Medicaid expansion with a skinny expansion, a move that may encourage other states to seek similar scaled-back expansions with full federal funding. The Republican-controlled Utah Senate approved legislation passed by the state House of Representatives Friday that replaces the voter-passed expansion to adults with incomes up to 138% of the federal poverty level with an expansion only to 100% of the poverty level. It passed on a near party-line vote, with one Republican joining all Democrats in opposition. (Meyer, 2/11)
The Associated Press:
Utah Reduces Voter-Backed Medicaid Expansion In Rare Move
It's drawn vocal protest from advocates who say the changes go further than any of the four other conservative-leaning states where voters expanded Medicaid after state lawmakers refused. "This is a dark day for democracy in Utah," said Andrew Roberts, a spokesman for the group Utah Decides. "State legislators turned their backs on voters and on families in need." (Whitehurst, 2/11)
Politico:
Utah GOP Shrinks Medicaid Expansion, Defying Voters
The Utah law marks the second time Republican leaders have blocked ballot measures approving Medicaid expansion in states that had long refused the program. For more than a year, former Maine Gov. Paul LePage fought a 2017 ballot measure ordering the state to expand coverage to 70,000 low-income adults, and the program only took effect after his Democratic successor Janet Mills took office last month. The Utah legislation, spearheaded by Republican leaders critical of the Obamacare expansion, will extend Medicaid for low-income adults with incomes below the federal poverty line, short of Obamacare’s eligibility threshold. (Pradhan, 2/11)
The Washington Post:
Utah Defies Will Of The Voters By Passing Bill To Limit Medicaid Expansion
What has been playing out within Utah’s granite state Capitol has ripple effects that stretch beyond the sparsely populated Western state. The actions of Utah’s lawmakers are testing the legitimacy of the citizen initiative, a staple of small-d democracy in about half the states. Idaho lawmakers also are considering restrictions to a Medicaid expansion approved by voters there. Maine residents approved a similar ballot initiative in 2017 but had to wait for the arrival of a Democratic governor for the expansion to begin finally this month. (Goldstein, 2/11)
The Hill:
Utah Gov Defies Voters, Signs Limited Medicaid Expansion
In a statement, [Gov. Gary] Herbert said the measure “balances Utah’s sense of compassion and frugality. It is now time to set aside differences and move forward to get those in greatest need enrolled on Medicaid and on the federal health care exchanges.” (Weixel, 2/11)
Meanwhile, in Texas —
Texas Tribune:
Texas Legislators Filed Bills To Put Medicaid Expansion Decision On The Ballot
Texas is one of 14 states that have not expanded Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act. An estimated 1.1 million low-income Texans would be eligible for coverage under a Medicaid expansion, according to the Kaiser Family Foundation. (Evans, 2/12)
