Medicaid Expansion Plans In Pa., Wis. Under Scrutiny
Pennsylvania advocates challenge the penalties and premium costs in Gov. Tom Corbett's proposed Medicaid expansion plan. Meanwhile, more than 70,000 low-income Wisconsin adults would keep their state BadgerCare Plus coverage for three months and a larger and poorer group would wait the same 90 days to enter the program under a GOP plan expected to become law in Wisconsin.
The Philadelphia Inquirer: Health Experts On Pa. Plan: Any Premium Too High For Poor
Tens of thousands of low-income Pennsylvanians would pay higher premiums in 2015 under Gov. Corbett's proposed Medicaid expansion than they would in 2014 for similar policies on the Affordable Care Act exchange. Some health-policy experts are concerned about the disparity, although coverage through Corbett's private-market alternative in most cases would still be cheaper, because there are virtually no out-of-pocket costs (Sapatkin, 12/19).
The Associated Press: Wisconsin Senate Passes Medicaid Delay
Around 83,000 childless adults in Wisconsin will have to wait at least three more months to receive Medicaid after state senators voted Thursday to delay their coverage while also pushing back the removal of about 72,000 other residents from the program. The Republican-controlled Senate passed the bill 18-12 along party lines, sending the measure to Gov. Scott Walker, who has said he'll sign it Friday. The Assembly passed it earlier this month (Bauer, 12/19).
The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Senate Adopts Plan On BadgerCare Changes In Response To Obamacare Problems
More than 70,000 low-income adults would keep their state BadgerCare Plus health coverage for three more months and a larger and poorer group would wait the same 90 days to enter the program for the first time, under a plan advanced by the state Senate Thursday. The legislation passed 18-12, with all Republicans voting in favor and all Democrats opposing it, and now goes to Republican Gov. Scott Walker, who first proposed the measure to deal with the troubled rollout of the federal law often referred to as Obamacare. Sen. Dale Schultz (R-Richland Center) voted for the final bill but joined all Democrats in voting for several failed amendments that would have provided BadgerCare coverage to more Wisconsinites in January. Walker said he would sign the bill Friday (Stein, 12/19).
