Mich. Senate Budget Has No Medicaid Expansion
LANSING (AP) - The Michigan Senate has approved a budget bill that doesn't include Gov. Rick Snyder's proposed expansion of government health insurance for low-income adults.
The narrow 20-18 vote Thursday means neither chamber in the Republican-led Legislature has embraced the Republican governor's Medicaid plan.
An alternative proposal from House Republicans would expand Medicaid eligibility but limit nondisabled adults to four years of coverage.
A waiver is needed from the Obama administration, and the Snyder administration and Democrats have doubts.
So for now, Medicaid expansion remains very much in doubt. Talks will continue as lawmakers try to finalize the state budget in coming weeks.
The federal health care law lets states make more people eligible for Medicaid. The federal government is offering to cover the entire cost of new Medicaid enrollees initially.
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