Judge suggests delaying Kentucky's Medicaid overhaul. Bevin says no

The federal government shutdown has thrown a wrench into a lawsuit filed in Washington, D.C., seeking to overturn Kentucky Gov. Matt Bevin's plan to overhaul the state Medicaid program.

U.S. Justice Department lawyers defending the federal government are seeking a delay in the case while they are furloughed, saying lawyers are only supposed to work on emergency cases during the shutdown.

On Thursday, U.S. District Judge James Boasberg said he would delay the case only if Kentucky agrees to delay its overhaul of Medicaid, scheduled to begin April 1.

Kentucky did not agree.

In a motion filed Thursday, lawyers for Bevin said the plan is still scheduled to begin April 1 and "the Commonwealth is actively working toward that go-live date."

Read more: https://www.courier-journal.com/story/news/politics/2019/01/18/government-shutdown-affects-lawsuit-over-matt-bevins-medicaid-overhaul/2608629002/