Gov. Bobby Jindal still opposes Medicaid expansion under the Affordable Care Act, despite the federal government having recently approved some flexibility on the issue.
Last week Arkansas Governor Mike Beebe announced he had struck a deal with the US Department of Health and Human Services where in place of expanding Medicaid in his state, those federal dollars
would instead be allowed to go to people for the purchase of private insurance.
Inflexibility is one of the many reasons Jindal opposes expanding Medicaid. State Department of Health and Hospitals Secretary Bruce Greenstein said he is eagerly awaiting the details of Gov. Beebe’s agreement.
"Because it will go against what HHS has given out as guidance so far. They’ve given states an all-or-nothing, take-it-or-leave-it, we-don’t-care-what-you-want stance," said Greenstein. "And if they’re changing that stance, I’m at least interested to learn more about it."
Proponents of Medicaid expansion say it will cover an additional 400,000 Louisianians and save the state millions in uncompensated care costs.
Greenstein will testify Wednesday at a meeting of the Joint Insurance Committee to discuss the Affordable Care Act.