Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
State Spending Swells -- Mostly Driven By Medicaid Expansion Fund Infusion
The Washington Post: State-Level Spending Grew Last Year, Thanks Largely To Obamacare
State spending last year grew at its fastest pace since before the recession, thanks mostly to an infusion of spending through Obamacare. Overall, spending was up 5.7 percent in fiscal 2014, according to a new report from the National Association of State Budget Officers. That’s up from 2.2 percent the year before and 1.1 percent before that. (Chokshi, 11/20)
The Hill: State Medicaid Spending Soars Under Obamacare
Federal dollars given to states for Medicaid swelled nearly 18 percent this year to cover millions of newly eligible people, helping to reverse a years-long trend of shrinking state budgets. Medicaid now makes up one-quarter of all state spending, with about $41.8 billion coming from the federal government over the last year, according to a report from the National Association of State Budget Officers. All other spending dropped $3.4 billion. (Ferris, 11/20)
