Expansion Debates Reheat As Medicaid Enrollment Exceeds Expectations
The lines are particularly stark between expansion and non-expansion states. Meanwhile, news outlets in Louisiana, Alaska and Tennessee also report on the latest developments.
PoliticoPro:
Skyrocketing Medicaid Sign-Ups Stir State Expansion Fights
Medicaid enrollment under Obamacare is skyrocketing past expectations, giving some GOP governors who oppose the program’s expansion under the health law an “I told you so” moment. More than 12 million people have signed up for Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act since January 2014, and in many states that embraced that piece of the law, enrollment is hundreds of thousands beyond initial projections. (Pradhan, 5/13)
The Associated Press:
Louisiana House Agrees To Financing Mechanism For Medicaid Expansion
House lawmakers gave quick, unanimous passage to a proposal that would help pay for a Medicaid expansion if Louisiana's next governor wants to provide coverage to the working poor. With a 96-0 vote Wednesday, the proposal by Republican House Speaker Chuck Kleckley was sent to the Senate for consideration. (5/13)
Fairbanks (Alaska) News Miner:
Legislators Dwell On Failings In Third Hearing On Medicaid Expansion
The third day of hearings on Medicaid expansion held by the House Finance Committee in Anchorage this week sounded much like the first two days. Legislators continued to question the administration on the failings of the Medicaid provider payment system, with little attention paid to other elements of Gov. Bill Walker’s Medicaid bill. The Wednesday meeting was the third of four scheduled this week on Gov. Bill Walker’s House Bill 148, which chiefly aims to expand Medicaid eligibility to 40,000 Alaskans and introduces some reforms to the large program. The bill is one of three Walker put on the agenda for the special session. (Buxton, 5/13)
The Tennessean:
64 Percent Favor Insure Tennessee
Almost two-thirds of registered voters favor Insure Tennessee, Gov. Bill Haslam's controversial health insurance plan, according to a new poll conducted by Vanderbilt University. The latest edition of the Vanderbilt poll shows 64 percent of registered voters polled favor Insure Tennessee, compared to 19 percent who oppose it. As expected, Democrats support the plan more than any other group, with 85 percent of self-identified Democrats saying they're in favor of the plan. (Boucher, 5/13)
