Because Utah has not expanded its Medicaid program, lawmakers have been developing potential alternative plans, according to The Associated Press.
For three years, lawmakers have been unable to agree on a plan. Now, however, they've created four potential proposals:
- Rep. Jim Dunnigan (R) is forming a proposal that would cover 16,000 Utahns and cost the state between $20 million and $30 million annually.
- Rep. Ray Ward (R) is working on a plan that would cover 125,000 Utahns and cost the state $50 million per year. His proposal is not unlike the plan offered by Gov. Gary Herbert (R) last year and rejected by lawmakers.
- Sen. Brian Shiozawa (R) proposed a plan that would expand Medicaid up to the poverty line. It is comparable to Rep. Ward's plan, but would cover a smaller amount of individuals.
- Sen. Gene Davis (D) created a proposal that would cover 125,000 Utahns and cost the state $51 million. Sen. Davis' plan is like President Obama's original intention for Medicaid expansion in that it would open Medicaid to everyone within 138 percent of the poverty level.
Utah lawmakers have yet to vote on a proposal.