DOH:Medicaid Expansion Would Save Money

A new report from the Wyoming Department of Health says that expanding Wyoming Medicaid as encouraged by the federal Affordable Care Act (ACA) could reduce the number of uninsured residents and save the state more than $47 Million over the next six years.

Department of Health Director Tom Forslund says the report looked at ACA costs, benefits and Medicaid impacts. The report found that although the combined costs of expanding Medicaid to cover both the mandatory and optional groups for fiscal years 2014 through 2020 would be $151.1 million, the combined budget offsets over the same period would be $198.5 million, resulting in a net savings of $47.4 million. Governor Matt Mead has said he doesn't support the expansion of the medicaid program.