Wyoming Lawmakers Asked To Reconsider Governor’s Medicaid Expansion Plan
The state's health director outlined to appropriators how the governor's plan would help cover rising costs. Also, South Dakota Gov. Dennis Daugaard continues to pitch his plan to expand the health care program for low-income people.
Casper (Wyo.) Star-Tribune/Wyoming Tribune Eagle:
Projections Show Medicaid Expansion Would Cover 20K In Wyoming
After rejecting Medicaid expansion in each of the past three years, state lawmakers are being asked to reconsider the proposal once again. Wyoming Department of Health Director Tom Forslund briefed the Joint Appropriations Committee on Monday on the governor’s plan to use Medicaid expansion to cover rising costs in the Department of Health’s budget. Forslund said accepting the expansion would extend health coverage to an estimated 20,000 low-income adults -- a 14 percent increase from past projections -- and send $268.4 million in federal funds to the state over the next two years. (Brown, 12/15)
Sioux Falls (S.D.) Argus Leader:
Daugaard Touts Medicaid Expansion Plan
Gov. Dennis Daugaard said he knows he'll have a tough sell in convincing a majority Republican Legislature to approve Medicaid expansion. The Republican governor took his plan on the road Monday, meeting with legislators and business leaders in Sioux Falls. In an interview with Argus Leader Media, Daugaard said he's crafted a plan designed to defend it against those who don't think it's "conservative enough." (Ferguson, 12/14)
In the news from Louisiana -
New Orleans Times-Picayune:
Bobby Jindal Isn't Preparing Louisiana For Likely Medicaid Expansion
Gov. Bobby Jindal said his administration is willing to provide information to Gov.-elect John Bel Edwards on anything he might need, but Jindal won't actively ready the Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals for Medicaid expansion -- one of Edwards' top priorities -- before the governor leaves office. ... Edwards has said he wants to implement Medicaid expansion as quickly as possible once he is sworn in on Jan. 11. The move could cause Louisiana's enrollment in the federal health care program to swell by as many as 500,000 additional people, according to state health officials. Legislators worry how the current Medicaid program would handle such a surge in participation. (O'Donoghue, 12/14)
