When states reject the Medicaid expansion, safety-net hospitals likely to be in a bind

Jun 28 2013

The Washington Post highlights a Georgia hospital to illustrate the choices safety net hospitals will face if their states opt against the health law's Medicaid exansion. Also, a number of states continue to grapple with debate and decisions related to the expansion issue.

The Washington Post's Wonk Blog: This Georgia Hospital Shows Why Rejecting Medicaid Isn't Easy
The Affordable Care Act was originally written such that every state would have to accept a Medicaid expansion. But the Supreme Court struck down that part of the law last year. The result is an unexpected bind for safety-net hospitals in states that are refusing Medicaid. How bad of a bind? Just look at the choices facing Atlanta's Grady Memorial Hospital (Blau, 6/26).

Minneapolis Star Tribune: Minnesota Medicaid Rolls Could Expand Rapidly With Health Reform Law
Minnesota could see tens of thousands of people sign up for Medicaid starting next year if it follows a pattern detected by University of Minnesota researchers in Massachusetts after the law known as Romneycare took effect. A "welcome mat" effect triggered by the 2006 law seemed to encourage enrollment by residents who were eligible for Medicaid but had never signed up, according to the study, which was published Monday in the influential journal "Health Affairs." (Griffin, 6/26).

The Associated Press: Health Care Workers Discuss Medicaid Expansion
Access to health care professionals and reimbursement options were among the topics discussed at a meeting of a state task force studying the possibility of expanding Medicaid in South Dakota on Wednesday. The 29-member panel appointed by Gov. Dennis Daugaard is made up of lawmakers, medical facilities directors and other health care workers (Eaton, 6/26).

The Associated Press: New Hampshire Lawmakers OK $10.7B Budget, Medicaid Study
The New Hampshire Legislature passed a $10.7 billion bipartisan budget Wednesday that eases the waiting time for services to the disabled and mentally ill, but puts off a decision on whether to expand Medicaid to 58,000 poor adults. The Senate voted unanimously to pass the budget, followed by the House passing each bill in the two-bill package by over 300 votes (Love, 6/27).

Detroit Free Press: GOP Senate Group To Study Possible Medicaid Expansion
State Senate Majority Leader Randy Richardville, R-Monroe, has formed a work group to study possible Medicaid expansion in Michigan -; an issue that he said is not dead, despite a decision last week by senators to leave for break without taking a vote on it. The six members are all Republicans but represent different views, said Richardville's spokeswoman Amber McCann (Erb 6/26).