Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
For Red States, A New Calculation About Medicaid Expansion
We鈥檙e still sifting through the fallout of Republicans鈥 failure to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act last week. One consequence: It鈥檚 reignited the debate in some states about whether to expand Medicaid. First out of the gate, the Kansas Legislature. Yesterday, state lawmakers sent the governor a bill to do just that. Nineteen states yet to expand may also begin to re-evaluate their options. (Gorenstein, 3/29)
After years of a proposed Medicaid expansion going nowhere in Kansas, the conservative state legislature has just voted to approve it. This comes after federal lawmakers dropped their bid to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act, which gives states money to expand their Medicaid programs. (Young, 3/29)
The national health care landscape has shifted so dramatically over the past month that earlier this week, the Republican-dominated Kansas Legislature did what many in that state long thought impossible: voted to expand Medicaid. ... the news of further Medicaid expansion hasn鈥檛 sat well with many Republicans in Washington. 鈥淢y concern is I want the Medicaid dollars to be used the best way they can be, and I think they should be emphasized for those people with disabilities and the elderly and children,鈥 Congressman Roger Marshall of Kansas, a Republican, told STAT. 鈥淚 think that I would still try to emphasize spending money on federally qualified clinics. 鈥 Mental illness needs some specific monies probably spent on it as well. We鈥檙e not doing a great job with it right now.鈥 (Facher, 3/29)
An effort to keep Arkansas' hybrid Medicaid expansion for another year fell short in the state House days after an attempt by congressional Republicans to repeal the federal health law that created the program failed. The House voted 73-17 Wednesday for the budget for the state Medicaid program, including the expansion, falling two votes short of the 75 needed to send the measure to the governor. House leaders did not indicate when they would try another vote on the bill. (3/29)
Senate Bill 196 by the Joint Budget Committee, which would appropriate funding for both the Medicaid expansion program and traditional Medicaid, received 73 votes in support and 17 against. As an appropriation bill it requires a three-fourths vote, or at least 75 votes in the 100-member House. ... House Speaker Jeremy Gillam, R-Judsonia, told reporters Wednesday he was confident the House would pass the bill later in the week. (Lyon, 3/29)
Missouri's Republican-led House has squashed an attempt by Democrats to expand Medicaid eligibility. Members voted 102-41 against a proposal by Columbia Democratic Rep. Kip Kendrick to broaden eligibility under former President Barack Obama's federal health care law. (3/29)
