Utah Lawmakers Urged To Adopt Full Medicaid Expansion After Administration Rejects Federal Funding Request
Utah voters in 2018 approved the full expansion with Proposition 3, but lawmakers, citing the potential for runaway costs, repealed the initiative and adopted their own, more restrictive plan. However, the state was rejected from getting the most generous federal funding available because of that decision. Other Medicaid news comes out of Virginia, North Carolina and New Hampshire, as well.
The Salt Lake Tribune:
Medicaid Supporters Call For Full Expansion After Failure Of Utah Legislature’s Health Care Plan
Between 2007 and 2012, Griffin Bonacci was injured in a pair of accidents that left him with five fractured disks in his back and neck and severe nerve damage throughout his body. The Magna resident was nearly paralyzed from the neck down, he said, and he has undergone 14 surgeries to maintain function in his arms and hands. “Nothing, still, works very well,” Bonacci said. (Wood, 8/2)
The Associated Press:
300,000 Virginians Newly Covered Through Medicaid Expansion
Just over 300,000 low-income Virginia adults have enrolled in the state’s expanded Medicaid program. Gov. Ralph Northam made the announcement Wednesday at a health center in Alexandria. State officials have previously estimated that roughly 400,000 adults would be newly eligible for Medicaid under the expansion lawmakers approved last year. (8/1)
Rocky Mount Telegram:
State Official Touts Benefits Of Medicaid Expansion
State Commerce Secretary Anthony Copeland did more than speak about economic development while he was at a business and education gathering Thursday in the Twin Counties. Copeland called for the audience to support expanding Medicaid in North Carolina.“I’m looking at this from an economic development point of view — billions of dollars, 50,000 jobs,” Copeland said. (West, 8/2)
NH Times Union:
New Hampshire Attorney General Will Appeal Federal Medicaid Work Requirement Ruling
New Hampshire Attorney General Gordon MacDonald plans to appeal a federal judge’s ruling that halted plans to impose work requirements on Medicaid recipients. The work requirement proposal, passed by the state legislature last year, needed approval from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. The plan required anyone covered by expanded Medicaid, known as Granite Advantage, to complete 100 hours of work or approved community activities each month to keep their Medicaid health insurance, unless they are too frail to work, or fall into other exceptions listed in the law. (8/1)
