Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
W. Va. Medicaid Expansion Advocates Worry About Future Costs
[N]ext year, the Medicaid expansion agreement between states and the federal government will begin to change. 鈥淪tarting in January of 2017, West Virginia will have to pay a 5 percent match for Medicaid Expansion. In the governor鈥檚 budget that鈥檚 14 million extra dollars for next year,鈥 said Renate Pore, director of health policy for West Virginians for Affordable Healthcare. In 2018, the state will have to match 6 percent, then 7 the following year, until by 2020 the match will cap at 10 percent and approximately 50 million additional dollars out of the state budget to pay for Medicaid. ... advocates like Pore they are worried about how the state will continue funding Medicaid. (Lofton, 5/23)
With officials from the state Department of Health and Human Services wrapping up work on an overhaul of the state鈥檚 Medicaid program this week, lawmakers, physicians and patient advocates gathered at the General Assembly Wednesday to push for Medicaid expansion to be included in the state鈥檚 reform plan. Dozens gathered for a press conference in the state legislative building that featured patients who could qualify for the state鈥檚 Medicaid program but don鈥檛. (Nigam, 5/26)