Republican state lawmakers' challenge to Medicaid expansion in Arizona will make its way back to court, according to a report from The Arizona Republic.
That's after a ruling by the Arizona Supreme Court, which will allow a lower court, the Maricopa County Superior Court, to decide whether Medicaid expansion in the state was legally made into law, according to the report. The Arizona Supreme Court made its ruling after Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer (R) asked the court to reject the lawmakers' challenge.
At issue is the funding mechanism for the program and whether it violated the Arizona Constitution, according to the report.
Currently, Arizona hospitals pay an "assessment." However, according to the report, the lawmakers contend the "assessment" is in fact a tax, which must have approval from a supermajority of the state Legislature.
The state passed Medicaid expansion in 2013, making another 300,000 low-income Arizonans eligible for Medicaid by raising the income cap and allowing some previously excluded populations to enroll, including childless adults. The Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System, Arizona's Medicaid alternative, has operated on an expanded basis since January 2014 and will continue to do so, according to the report.
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