Louisiana senators kill proposed expansion of state Medicaid program

On Wednesday, efforts to expand the Louisiana Medicaid program under the federal health care law had been turned away by state lawmakers along with the rejection of the Senate health committee to the idea. TimesUnion.com said that the 6-2 vote against the expansion had definitely ended the state Senate's debate on the bill for the session.

The expanded Medicaid bill, which was proposed by Senator Ben Nevers, will reportedly let votes decide on whether to direct the administration of Louisiana governor Bobby Jindal to offer government-backed insurance coverage to adults that make up the 138% of the federal poverty level. According to supporters of the bill, the expanded Medicaid program will be able to cover an additional 240,000 people. Majority of the coverage cost, which will be shouldered by the federal government, is estimated at $16 billion over a 10-year span. Moreover, supporters had claimed that the insurance coverage expansion will improve health care for thousands of Louisianians who are currently working at low-wage jobs and could not afford the coverage on their own expenses. Also, supporters of the healthcare expansion bill insisted that the proposal will provide an influx of dollars and business to health care providers.

Jindal and GOP leaders reportedly opposed the proposal, which was authorized under the Affordable Healthcare Act or Obamacare by US President Barack Obama, TimesUnion.com said. They argued that the increased insurance coverage could bankrupt the state and the federal government and could incite people who can afford private insurance to shift to government-funded health care. Louisiana health secretary Kathy Kliebert said that there is also the danger of the US Congress cutting off the federal money for the expanded Medicaid at any time, and that providing someone with a Medicaid card does not guarantee improved healthcare access of better health outcomes.

Democrat Senator John Breaux had urged state senators to consider the proposal outside of the partisan politics scope and said, "To not participate is to allow your tax dollars, our citizens' tax dollars to go to other states to help their citizens and not ours."

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Louisiana Medicaid program, proposed expansion of the Louisiana Medicaid program, Louisiana governor Bobby Jindal, US Congress

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