Medicaid expansion issue unresolved in Pennsylvania
(Harrisburg) — Governor Corbett plans to keep up negotiations with the federal government over a potential Medicaid expansion in Pennsylvania.
Appearing on witf‘s Radio PA program “Ask the Governor,” Corbett insisted that changes should be made to the program before it is expanded. He said it doesn’t make sense to keep pouring money into a broken system.
“What I have been doing is trying to get some reforms from the Department of HHS, in Medicaid, for instance allowing us to keep our children in the CHIP program.”
The state Senate voted overwhelmingly in favor of language that would have required Medicaid expansion by next July, but it was ultimately stripped from the welfare code bill. House Republicans agree with Corbett that he needs the freedom to negotiate with the federal Department of Health and Human Services.
But Medicaid expansion supporters are lamenting a lost opportunity. They say it would provide health insurance for another 500,000 low-income Pennsylvanians, and have a positive impact on the state budget to the tune of $255-million a year.
