Medicaid expansion: Wisconsin's 'third way'; Virginia's health secretary could ease path

Dec 20 2013

News outlets report on various developments related to two state efforts to expand the health insurance program for low-income people.

The Wall Street Journal: A Medicaid Bet In Wisconsin
If Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker ever runs for president, expect him to talk about his "third way" for Medicaid-;a plan that rejects part of President Barack Obama's health law while extending coverage to more poor in the state. It is a fine line to walk for Mr. Walker, who could face a tough re-election fight next year. But his stance shows how one battle-tested Republican is trying to appeal to voters and respect conservatives' distaste for the Affordable Care Act (Peters and Radnofsky, 12/18).

The Washington Post: McAuliffe To Reappoint McDonnell's Health Secretary, Bill Hazel
Gov.-elect Terry McAuliffe will keep Gov. Robert F. McDonnell's health secretary as his own, a choice that could help the new governor sell Medicaid expansion to wary Republicans but that also infuriates some abortion rights activists. ... As a highly regarded health-policy expert and holdover from a GOP administration, [William A. Hazel Jr.] could be an asset to McAuliffe in the uphill battle that is his top priority: persuading Republican state lawmakers to expand Medicaid under the federal health-care law known as Obamacare (Vozzella, 12/18).