The Wyoming Senate Appropriations Committee agreed to a $20,000 sum for a bill that would create an alternative to Medicaid expansion, according to the Wyoming Tribune Eagle.
The committee voted 4-1 in favor of the appropriation for the bill.
The bill — called Senate File 86 and sponsored by Sen. Charles Scott (R) — necessitates the Legislature's Management Council create an alternative Medicaid expansion program in the state. The $20,000 appropriation will help the Legislative Service Office complete necessary tasks for the bill and its approval, according to Sen. Scott.
The alternative Medicaid expansion program "shall seek to provide greater health status improvements than those provided by the Medicaid program," according to the text of the bill.
Although the necessary appropriation was granted, some committee members were not as positive about SF 86. "With all due respect, this is a 'trying to feel good while we do nothing to help the uninsured' bill," said Sen. John Hastert (D), who's vying for a complete version of Medicaid expansion instead.