States and Medicaid Expansion

On Medicaid expansion, a question of math and politics, By Christine Vestal, July 8, 2015, Stateline: “With its ruling in King v. Burwell last month, the U.S. Supreme Court likely settled the question of whether President Barack Obama’s signature Affordable Care Act will survive. Whether and when the health law will be fully implemented in all 50 states is a different question.  ‘With the King decision behind us, the drumbeats for Medicaid expansion are increasing,’ said Matt Salo, executive director of the National Association of Medicaid Directors. ‘There is movement in every state. They’ll get there. Maybe not today and maybe not this year, but they’ll get there soon.’  That’s the hope of health care industry groups and legions of consumer advocates. Major business organizations and local and county governments are also onboard. Following the high court’s decision, President Obama vowed to do all he can to persuade states to opt in before he leaves office in 18 months. But in the mostly Southern and Midwestern states that have rejected expansion, opposition shows little sign of abating…”