Last week the legislature’s Joint Appropriation Committee removed Medicaid expansion from the Wyoming Department of Health budget, a move that Healthy Wyoming says will hurt 20,000 people in the state. Healthy Wyoming is a coalition of Wyoming organizations working for quality, affordable healthcare in Wyoming
Bianna Jones, Healthy Wyoming co-chair, says Medicaid expansion would bring $268 million in federal funds to the state to help those who can’t afford insurance.
She says Medicaid expansion would benefit every sector of the state’s economy.
Governor Matt Mead has supported Medicaid expansion, but some legislators feel the federal government would not be able to continue to pay the state the money promised. Medicaid can still be discussed at the upcoming legislative session.