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Utah governor: Dont rush to judgment on Medicaid expansion | The Salt Lake Tribune

Utahgovernor:DontrushtojudgmentonMedicaid expansion
PUBLISHED:MARCH7,201305:02PM UPDATED:MARCH8,201308:13PM

UtahGov.GaryHerberthascommittedtoworkwithlegislativeleadersindecidingwhethertostretchMedicaidtocovermorelowincomeUtahnsapointhereiteratedata pressbriefingonThursday. ButheurgeslawmakersnottorushtojudgmentaboutthisnowoptionalprovisionofObamacare. Iwouldjustcounselthemalltoletusgothroughthisthoughtful,methodicalstudywherewehavealltheinformationonthetableandthenmakeadecision,Herbertsaid, referringtoatwicedelayedanalysiscommissionedbytheUtahDepartmentofHealth. HerbertscommentscomeadayafterRepublicansonaHousecommitteereplacedanantihealthreformbillwithabillprohibitingthegovernororhealthdepartmentfrom expandingMedicaid. ThegovernorisfrettingtheshortandlongtermcostsofexpandingMedicaidtocover131,000Utahnsunder138percentofthefederalpovertyline,bothforthestateand federalgovernment. Healsovoicedconcernaboutleavingsomewithoutaffordablehealthcoverageoptions. Andheaddedhesopentoinnovativealternatives,suchasapartialexpansionpitchedbyfellowRepublican,Gov.ScottWalkerofWisconsin.Utahsanalysisshouldbeready intimetomakeadecisionthissummer,hesaid. Thefederalhealthlawdeferstogovernorsasthedecidersontheexpansion.ShouldHB391passtheHouseandSenate,itwouldputHerbertinthepositionofsigning legislationnullifyinghisauthority. HedeclinedThursdaysayifhedvetothebill,saying,Letsseeifitgetstomyoffice. UtahDemocratsissuedastatementblastingRepublicansforignoringtheeconomicandpublichealthbenefitsofcoveringthestatesuninsured. EithertheyrelookingforpoliticalcovertoallowthemtorefusetheexpansioninyetanothermetaphoricalmiddlefingertoPresidentObama,ortheyhavebadlylostcontrolof theirowncaucus,saidUtahDemocraticPartyexecutivedirectorMattLyon.Ifwerefusetheexpansion,wewillbeonthehookforthehospitalbillsthattheuninsuredcant pay,andmoneythatUtahnspaid[infederal]taxeswillgotocovertheMedicaidexpansioninotherstatesthatdidoptin,likeNewJerseyandArizona. SomeRepublicansontheHousecommitteethatpushedthebillthroughexpressedsimilarconcerns. Butthemeasurewonsupportfromsurprisingcorners,garneringayesvotefromRep.JimDunnigan,RTaylorsville,chairmanoftheLegislaturesHealthReformTaskForce. ConsumeradvocatesarentconvincedaWisconsinstylecompromisewouldworkforUtah,buttheydliketheopportunityforaninformeddebate.Wisconsinstruckamiddle groundwithitsproposaltoextendMedicaidcoveragetoadultslivingunderthepovertylinewhilemovingsomeabovethatincomelevelintosubsidizedprivateinsurancevia Obamacaresonlineexchanges. HB391wouldtieUtahshands,givingitnoleveragetonegotiatelocalsolutionswiththefeds,saidMattSlonaker,MedicaidPolicyandCollaborationsDirectorattheUtah HealthPolicyProject. Republicangovernorsinotherstates,includingNewJerseyandFlorida,haveembracedtheMedicaidexpansion.IfUtahpasses,itwillmeanforgoingfederalfunding.The federalgovernmenthascommittedtofoottheentirecostoftheexpansioninthefirstyears,phasingdownto90percent. Wisconsinwill,instead,getitsregularfederalmatchrateof60percentforitsnewlyeligibleadults. Twitter:@kirstendstewart

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