Medicaid Expansion Options Community Workgroup to Hold First Meeting

What: The Utah Department of Health (UDOH) will host the first Medicaid Expansion Options Community Workgroup meeting to explore options related to the potential expansion of the state’s Medicaid program under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA).  The workgroup will be charged with collecting input from the community, identifying and analyzing factors beyond financial considerations, and considering alternatives to full expansion or the status quo.

The workgroup will ultimately provide Gov. Gary R. Herbert with a report detailing a full range of options along with key advantages and disadvantages of each option.

Why:  Under the ACA, states have the option of expanding their Medicaid programs to all adults who earn up to 138 percent of the federal poverty level.  If the state decides to expand, the federal government would cover 100 percent of the costs for the first three years.  After that, states would be required to pay a portion of the related costs.  The state would also incur additional administrative costs associated with any potential expansion.

   

Who: The workgroup is comprised of business, community and government leaders, legislators, advocates for low-income individuals and families, and other stakeholders from the health care industry. 

 

When:  Tuesday, April 23, 2013

1:30 p.m.

Where: Utah State Capitol 

                Capitol Boardroom (East end of Rotunda)

 

Medicaid Expansion Options Community Workgroup
Sen. Allen Christensen,Utah State Senate
Sen. Gene Davis,Utah State Senate
Matt Slonaker, Utah Health Policy Project
Wes Smith, Salt Lake Chamber of Commerce
Pamela Atkison, Community Advocate
Karen Crompton, Voices for Utah Children
Stan Rasmussen, Sutherland Institute
Rod Betit, Utah Hospital Association
Greg Poulsen, Intermountain Healthcare
David Entwistle, University of Utah Health Care
Sen. Todd Weiler, Utah State Senate
Sen. Peter Knudson, Utah State Senate
Michelle McOmber, Utah Medical Association
Alan Pruhs, Association for Utah Community Health
Adam Troup, Utah Association of Counties
David Patton, Utah Department of Health
Michael Hales, Utah Medicaid Director
Kristy Chambers,4th Street Clinic
Royce Van Tassel, Utah Taxpayers’ Association