Ark. Lawmakers Approve Continuing Medicaid Expansion, But Funding Questions Remain
Opponents hope to stop the program next week when the legislature takes up funding. Also, news outlets report on Medicaid expansion issues in Louisiana, New Hampshire and Florida.
Arkansas Online:
Medicaid Plan OK'd; Funding Doubt Remains
Legislation to continue providing health coverage for more than 267,000 low-income Arkansans under the state's expanded Medicaid program cleared the state House and Senate on Thursday, but by smaller margins than will be needed next week to approve funding for the program beyond June 30. Opponents of the program vowed to try to block funding during the fiscal session, which starts Wednesday, and said they have the votes to do it. (Davis, Fanney, Wickline and Willems, 4/8)
New Orleans Times-Picayune:
Louisiana Legislators Get An Earful Over Medicaid Expansion Bills
Advocates for poor people and Medicaid expansion hammered Louisiana lawmakers Thursday (April 7) for what they said was legislation aimed at limiting access to health insurance and charging co-pays. The testimony, which was at times unusually harsh, came during a House Health and Welfare Committee meeting that Chairman Frank Hoffmann, R-West Monroe, said was the most difficult held this legislative session. After 2 1/2 hours of work, the committee succeeded in passing no legislation. Several lawmakers killed their own bills rather than bring them up for a vote. (Litten, 4/7)
New Orleans Times-Picayune:
Support For Medicaid Copays Plan Is Crumbling
Legislative support appears to be crumbling for plans to charge Medicaid recipients copays for receiving health care services. Gov. John Bel Edwards threw his support behind copays after Republicans pushed for the measure as part of Medicaid expansion. But two legislators interviewed Wednesday (April 6) said there are serious doubts about whether there is enough support to get the plan out of committee after health care providers began lobbying against the bill. (Littens, 4/7)
The Associated Press:
Medicaid Copay Bills Stall Amid Health Provider Opposition
Proposals to charge Medicaid patients copays for some health care services and prescription drugs have fizzled in the Louisiana Legislature, including a measure backed by Gov. John Bel Edwards. Hearings on three Medicaid copay bills sponsored by Republicans were scrapped Thursday in the House Health and Welfare Committee, including on the bill by Rep. Jack McFarland, R-Winnfield, which is supported by the Democratic governor. (Deslatte, 4/7)
New Hampshire Union Leader:
Work Requirement For Medicaid Expansion Looks Doomed
The day Gov. Maggie Hassan signed the bill extending Medicaid expansion for two years, the federal Health and Human Services secretary rejected the state of Arkansas’ work requirement, a key element in New Hampshire’s bill. The biggest debate among lawmakers over reauthorizing the New Hampshire Health Protection Program was the 30-hour work requirement for more than 48,000 low-income adults. During House and Senate debates, supporters of HB 1696 said the requirement is important but backed a provision needed to allow the program to continue if the federal Center for Medicaid Services denies the requirement, as it has for other states. (Rayno, 4/7)
CBS News:
Florida Woman Explains Smackdown Of Gov. Rick Scott
A Florida woman who was caught on camera Tuesday blasting Gov. Rick Scott at a Starbucks in Gainesville for cutting Medicaid and signing a bill to defund clinics like Planned Parenthood, is now responding to the viral video that garnered her national attention. (Luibrand, 4/7)
