Several states across the U.S. have discussed ending Medicaid programs, according to a report by the Wall Street Journal.
Officials from five different states — Washington, Texas, South Carolina, Wyoming and Nevada — have "publicly thrown out" the idea, according to the report.
Texas appears to be the most serious about the idea. GOP State Representative Warren Chisum, who is campaigning to become speaker of the Texas House, has said the program is bankrupting the stateb and Texas Governor Rick Perry discussed an opt-out on CNN earlier this month.
Medicaid is often one of the biggest expenses for states, and recent budget shortfalls in many states have made officials reevaluate the Medicaid program.
Even proponents of scrapping the program, however, don't actually expect these programs to be wholly abandoned, according to the report. An alternative, narrower program funded entirely by the state has been proposed in Texas. Such a program would not receive federal matching funds, but it would not be prohibited from reducing eligibility if no federal funds were involved, according to the report.
Read the Wall Street Journal report on Medicaid.
Read more coverage on Medicaid:
- Texas State Lawmaker, Governor Propose Withdrawing From Medicaid
- Delayed Congressional Action on Medicaid Funding Helps 16 States, Hurts 24 Others
- Medicaid Payment Commission Holds First Meeting
Officials from five different states — Washington, Texas, South Carolina, Wyoming and Nevada — have "publicly thrown out" the idea, according to the report.
Texas appears to be the most serious about the idea. GOP State Representative Warren Chisum, who is campaigning to become speaker of the Texas House, has said the program is bankrupting the stateb and Texas Governor Rick Perry discussed an opt-out on CNN earlier this month.
Medicaid is often one of the biggest expenses for states, and recent budget shortfalls in many states have made officials reevaluate the Medicaid program.
Even proponents of scrapping the program, however, don't actually expect these programs to be wholly abandoned, according to the report. An alternative, narrower program funded entirely by the state has been proposed in Texas. Such a program would not receive federal matching funds, but it would not be prohibited from reducing eligibility if no federal funds were involved, according to the report.
Read the Wall Street Journal report on Medicaid.
Read more coverage on Medicaid:
- Texas State Lawmaker, Governor Propose Withdrawing From Medicaid
- Delayed Congressional Action on Medicaid Funding Helps 16 States, Hurts 24 Others
- Medicaid Payment Commission Holds First Meeting