Virginia Medicaid costs to rise again as governor prepares new push for expansion
RICHMOND — The cost of Virginia's Medicaid program will grow by $281 million in the current two-year budget, increasing the challenge for Gov. Terry McAuliffe in managing a projected $1.48 billion revenue shortfall.
It also increases his challenge in trying to persuade Republican legislators to accept billions of federal dollars to expand health coverage of uninsured Virginians.
The new forecast, delivered to the General Assembly budget committees Tuesday, is driven primarily by higher costs for services to the elderly and disabled, not the basic health care for parents, families, and childless adults who would be among the 350,000 uninsured Virginians who would be covered by expansion of Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act.
McAuliffe also argues that accepting federal funds to expand coverage would free $211 million in state funds in this budget biennium to help reduce the projected revenue shortfall, improve mental health services, and battle an epidemic of heroin and opioid addiction.
Read more: http://www.dailyprogress.com/news/politics/virginia-medicaid-costs-to-rise-again-as-governor-prepares-new/article_9e9e4596-a07c-11e6-aca0-93dc69a0a0b9.html
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