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University of Wisconsin–Madison
Poverty-related issues in the news, from the Institute for Research on Poverty

States and Medicaid Expansion

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  • Medicaid costs top worries of W.Va., 21 other states, By Phil Kabler, August 7, 2012, Charleston Gazette: “West Virginia is one of 22 states citing increasing costs of Medicaid as the top budget challenge facing it in the 2012-13 budget year, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures’ new update on state budgets. Additionally, eight states cite increased Medicaid spending as the second-biggest budget challenge, while three states listed it third among budget issues, according to the NCSL report to be released Tuesday. For West Virginia, the state’s share of Medicaid costs will increase by about $80 million in the current budget year, a result of reduced federal matching funds and increased costs for health-care services…”
  • Federal government trying to entice states to expand Medicaid, By Kevin O’Hanlon, August 10, 2012, Lincoln Journal Star: “Amid ongoing resistance from some governors to increase Medicaid coverage under the new federal health care law, the federal government is trying to entice more states to expand the program. The U.S. Supreme Court recently upheld the constitutionality of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, but said the expansion of Medicaid benefits in the law essentially was a new program, thereby making it optional for states. Nebraska Gov. Dave Heineman and several other governors have said they will reject the law’s Medicaid expansion because they fear its costs will be unsustainable…”
  • Michigan could scale back Medicaid expansion if costs become too burdensome, By Melissa Anders, August 10, 2012, MLive.com: “Supporters of the Affordable Care Act are hopeful that Michigan will expand its Medicaid program now that a federal official has said states could opt out down the road.
    But a spokesman for House Leader Jase Bolger, R-Marshall, said that’s not necessarily enough to sway his opinion in favor of the measure. The Affordable Care Act calls for an expansion of Medicaid that in Michigan would add at least 400,000 people to the federal-state health insurance program for the poor and disabled…”