Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
Maine House Approves Medicaid Expansion, But Governor's Veto Likely
The Maine House voted to approve an expansion of Medicaid on Wednesday, but still fell well short of the margin needed to overcome an inevitable veto from Gov. Paul LePage. The 85-64 vote was largely along party lines and came one day after the Republican-controlled Senate narrowly endorsed using federal funds to purchase coverage for more low-income Mainers. The measure, however, appears headed for a sixth-straight defeat by LePage, who has argued expansion would cost the state more money down the line. (Miller, 4/13)
A bill that would use federal Medicaid dollars to expand access to drug addiction treatment and mental health services passed narrowly in the Senate Wednesday and was approved almost entirely along party lines in the House. Rep. Charlotte Warren, a Hallowell Democrat, told her seat mates they should listen to Maine鈥檚 law enforcement community who say the bill would provide financial assistance to the state鈥檚 cash-strapped county jails. (Higgins, 4/14)
A bill to appropriate funding for the state Medicaid program, including the governor鈥檚 plan for Medicaid expansion, advanced out of committee on Wednesday, the first day of the Arkansas Legislature鈥檚 fiscal session. The bill cleared the Joint Budget Committee in a voice vote and is expected to be voted on Thursday in the Senate. Legislators on both sides of the debate over Medicaid expansion said the bill was unlikely to pass in the Senate. (Lyon, 4/14)
Legislation reauthorizing the use of federal Medicaid funds to purchase private health insurance for low-income Arkansans cleared the Legislature's Joint Budget Committee on Wednesday and will be considered today by the Senate. Senate Bill 121 would grant spending authority totaling $8.4 billion in state and federal funds for various Medicaid programs. That includes $1.6 billion in spending authority for the Medicaid expansion to those of low income, including $43 million in state funds to match the federal funds, said state Department of Human Services spokesman Amy Webb. (Fanney and Wickline, 4/14)
