Wyoming Left Is Pushing Medicaid Expansion Again

Here it comes again.

A bill that would expand the Medicaid program in Wyoming has been filed for the upcoming session of the Wyoming Legislature.

But Medicaid expansion has been a failure for those states that have tried it. Lots of spending, little benefit.

Expect a propaganda advertising blitz from Medicaid expansion supporters in the coming months.

Below is an interview with a Wyoming doctor explaining why Medicaid Expansion would be bad for this state as it has been for others.

This bill comes around every year. Despite it's past failures there is a group in Wyoming that is determined to have Wyoming sign on to the expansion program.

Bills have been introduced in the past and failed, the idea was even backed by then-Gov. Matt Mead at one point.

Backers say it will expand coverage to around 27,000 residents who don't have it. They point to the money that will pour into our state hospitals from the federal government.

Obamacare allowed states to expand Medicaid. The federal government initially covered the entire cost of expansion. But that did not last long. By 2020, it will only cover 90% of the cost and leave states to cover the remaining 10%. That percentage continues to drop.

Then there was the overflow of people. Twice as many enrolled as was expected, according to a report from the Foundation for Government Accountability. Each new enrollee costs about 76% more than projected.

States are not drowning in Medicaid debt. North Dakota, expansion cost 163% more than expected over a two-and-a-half-year period. In Louisiana, it cost 115% more over one year. Today, about 1 in every 3 state dollars goes to Medicaid.

This debt keeps climbing. Medicaid spending for adults covered under the expansion will hit $938 billion.