States Offer Mixed Emotions On Health Law’s Medicaid Expansion
USA Today reports that, for the Obama administration, there's both good and bad news from Republican governors regarding their take on expanding the low-income insurance program. But The Atlanta Journal-Constitution notes that red-state allies are emerging in states that initially were strongly opposed to the health law.
USA Today:
Obama Getting Mixed News On Medicaid Expansions
President Obama is getting some good news and some not-so-good news as his administration tries to persuade Republican governors to sign off on Medicaid expansions. For example, in Utah, Gov. Gary Herbert says he has a deal on a Medicaid compromise. Meanwhile, reports indicate that Indiana Gov. Mike Pence -- a potential Republican presidential candidate -- may nix a Medicaid deal. (Jackson, 10/24)
Atlanta Journal-Constitution:
Medicaid Expansion Finds Red-State Allies
A growing number of states that strongly opposed Obamacare are rethinking their positions on Medicaid expansion as they watch billions in new federal dollars rain down on neighboring states
Arkansas is helping lead the shift by changing the rules: with Washington’s permission, the state has enabled the poor to buy private insurance policies using the federal Medicaid expansion money. Other red states, finding this tack more politically palatable, are exploring Arkansas’ approach. Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam, for example, said he may submit a similar proposal to federal health officials. Georgia, meanwhile, remains firmly opposed to expansion. But with November’s gubernatorial election less than two weeks away, the future of Medicaid expansion in the Peach State may yet be in play. (Bluestein and Williams, 10/24)
