Virginia Governor Vetoes Legislation That Would Prevent Him From Expanding Medicaid
Gov. Terry McAuliffe has been trying to expand the health program for low-income residents, but the Republican-controlled legislature has fought him fiercely on the issue.
The Washington Post:
McAuliffe Vetoes Budget Language Meant To Block Medicaid Expansion
Gov. Terry McAuliffe on Friday vetoed language that the Republican-controlled legislature inserted in the state budget earlier this year to prevent him from expanding Medicaid without its permission. A spokesman for McAuliffe said the governor had no imminent plan to expand the federal health care program for the poor on his own .... But spokesman Brian Coy also indicated that the governor was once again exploring the possibility of circumventing a General Assembly that is deeply opposed to expansion, which was McAuliffe’s marquee campaign promise when he was elected in 2013. (Vozzella, 5/20)
The Richmond Times-Dispatch:
McAuliffe Budget Veto Could Open Door For Medicaid Expansion
Gov. Terry McAuliffe is seeking to reopen the door to expanding Virginia’s Medicaid program by vetoing a provision of the state budget that he said unconstitutionally ties all spending in the $105 billion document to a bar against accepting federal funding to expand health coverage of uninsured Virginians. (Martz, 5/20)
Meanwhile, Modern Healthcare examines efforts to get Medicaid coverage for people leaving jail and prison —
Modern Healthcare:
Helping Ex-Inmates Get Medicaid
Nationally, 42% of state prison inmates report both mental health and substance-abuse disorders, research shows. Other studies have found that providing good services to released inmates charged with minor crimes can reduce re-arrest and re-incarceration rates by 90%. Nevertheless, thousands of people eligible for Medicaid are leaving jails and prisons without being signed up for coverage, increasing the chances of poor health outcomes and a return to incarceration, experts say. (Meyer, 5/21)
