White House advocates Medicaid expansion in Nebraska; Ricketts calls move too costly

http://www.livewellnebraska.com/health/white-house-advocates-medicaid-expansion-in-nebraska-ricketts-calls-move/article_7cd166c3-158b-5fec-8ff5-f0ded63e48f6.html

Posted: Monday, June 8, 2015 1:00 am
By Rick Ruggles / World-Herald staff writer

The White House has stepped up efforts to promote expansion of Medicaid in Nebraska and 21 other states that have declined to participate in that element of Obamacare.

That effort, as is typical of the Affordable Care Act in general, was praised by some and criticized by others.

The White House Council of Economic Advisers estimated that 42,000 more Nebraskans would have health insurance coverage if Medicaid were expanded here. Information distributed by the White House said Medicaid expansion in Nebraska also would enable about 6,000 people to avoid trouble paying other bills because of the burden of medical costs, and reduce the amount of uncompensated medical care in the state by $40 million in 2016.

Gov. Pete Ricketts, however, said in a written statement that Medicaid expansion would prove far too costly for the state over the long term. Ricketts said he would work with the state health department and the Nebraska Legislature to find “financially responsible Nebraska-based solutions to health care.”

FULL story at link.