GOP Legislators Officially Kill Mont. Gov.’s Medicaid Expansion Plan
Meanwhile, debate continues in Florida over efforts to expand the state-federal health insurance plan for low-income residents. Also in the news, Republican N.J. Gov. Chris Christie touts his support for expanding Medicaid there, and Alabama officials begin tests on restructuring the state's Medicaid program.
Great Falls (Mont.) Tribune:
Governor’s Proposal To Expand Medicaid Dies In House
The state House on Tuesday officially killed the governor’s proposal to expand Medicaid to about 70,000 low-income Montanans. House Minority Leader Chuck Hunter of Helena made a motion on the House floor to reject the unfavorable committee report given to House Bill 249 Friday by a Republican-led committee. A vote by 60 representatives to reject it would have allowed the bill to be debated and voted upon on the floor. Instead it received only 41 votes, all from Democrats, while 59 Republicans voted against it. (Baumann, 3/10)
Kaiser Health News:
Republican Lawmakers Sink Montana Governor’s Medicaid Expansion Plan
Obamacare’s tenuous toehold in Montana appears to be growing no firmer. Despite a hearing crowded with supporters of the Democratic governor’s Medicaid expansion bill, Republican legislators have dealt the measure a likely death blow. Republicans control both houses of the Montana legislature, which meets only every other year, and the health law has been controversial. The legislature refused to set up a state-run insurance marketplace before enrollment began and in 2013 it turned down a proposal to expand Medicaid. But statehouse Democrats were hopeful they could ally with enough moderate Republicans to gain a majority of votes in favor of their bill this year. (Whitney, 3/11)
The Missoulian:
Montana House Officially Kills Governor’s Medicaid Expansion Bill
The Montana House on Tuesday officially killed Gov. Steve Bullock’s Medicaid expansion proposal, refusing on a party-line vote to overturn a committee report to reject it. All 59 House Republicans voted to adopt the House Human Services Committee’s do-not-pass recommendation on House Bill 249; all 41 Democrats voted against it. Democrats again castigated Republicans on the committee for voting late Friday night to kill the measure, which would accept federal money to expand Medicaid coverage to up to 70,000 low-income Montanans without health insurance. (Dennison, 3/10)
MIami Herald:
Florida Senate Panel Pushes Medicaid Expansion Forward, But Still A Long Shot
A state Senate panel on Tuesday approved a sweeping proposal that would allow Florida to use billions of federal dollars to expand healthcare coverage to about 800,000 low-income residents — if it’s able to overcome two big hurdles. The bill (SPB 7044) won the unanimous support of the Senate Health Policy Committee and applause from the audience when it passed. “It’s a watershed day in the Florida Senate and, hopefully, in the Florida Legislature,” said Senate Democratic Leader Arthenia Joyner, D-Tampa. (McGrory and Van Sickler, 3/10)
Health News Florida:
Florida Health Choices To Become Medicaid Expansion Vehicle Under Senate Plan
Florida's small-business marketplace is in for major changes under the Senate's Medicaid expansion proposal. After a slow start getting up and running, Florida Health Choices could see its customer base grow exponentially under the Senate's plan. (Hatter, 3/10)
The Associated Press:
Christie Touts Benefits Of Medicaid Expansion At Town Hall
New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie is touting the budgetary benefits of Medicaid expansion under President Barack Obama's health care overhaul. The potential Republican presidential contender, who has been a vocal critic of Obama's signature health care program, said Tuesday during a town hall event that Medicaid expansion has helped save New Jersey taxpayers significant money and benefited low-income residents as well as the state's bottom line. (Colvin, 3/10)
Al.com:
Alabama's Medicaid Reform Takes Major Step Next Month
Six of the organizations vying to take over Medicaid will undertake care for 220,000 of its sickest patients on April 1, in the first test of a program officials hope could save millions of dollars. Six probationary regional care organizations are participating in an expansion of the Health Home program. Medicaid patients with 12 costly and chronic health conditions, including asthma, diabetes, HIV, cancer, mental illness, sickle cell disease and heart disease, will receive added support and coordination through primary care physicians and the regional care organizations. State officials want to reform Medicaid by transferring the risk and responsibility for patients to regional care organizations that will receive lump payments for individuals in the program. (Yurkanin, 3/10)
