Medicaid expansion a tough sell to governors of both parties (Brian Schweitzer now!)

[alp227]

While the resistance of Republican governors has dominated the debate over the health-care law in the wake of last month’s Supreme Court decision to uphold it, a number of Democratic governors are also quietly voicing concerns about a key provision to expand coverage.

At least seven Democratic governors have been noncommittal about their willingness to go along with expanding their Medicaid programs, the chief means by which the law would extend coverage to millions of Americans with incomes below or near the poverty line.

“Unlike the federal government, Montana can’t just print money,” Gov. Brian Schweitzer (D) said in a statement Wednesday. “We have a budget surplus, and we’re going to keep it that way.”

The law would add an estimated 84,000 people to Montana’s Medicaid program, doubling its size, the governor said. Although the federal government would pay the vast majority of the additional costs, Montana’s health and human services department estimates the state’s share would reach $71 million in 2019. Outside groups say the costs would be far lower than that.

full: http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/health-science/2012/07/12/gJQAF4RAfW_singlePage.html

[MissMarple]

1. It's a big problem. Medicaid is a troubled program.

And has been for quite some time.