Medicaid

Monday was the last day for the first reading of bills in the House of origin. House Bill 162 got in just ahead of the deadline, while Senate File 154 missed it and is now dead for this session.

The bill now moves on to the full Wyoming Senate.

Bills to expand Medicaid coverage in Wyoming have been proposed for years, but none has ever won final approval.

The bill would require the governor to give the legislature written notice of any plans to expand Medicaid.

The Wyoming Department of Health estimates Medicaid expansion would provide health care coverage to an additional 19,000 Wyomingites.

An estimated 19,000 residents would be covered initially if Medicaid expansion were approved.

The Medicaid expansion bill will need a two-thirds vote in both houses to be considered in the 2020 Legislature's budget session.

Wyoming lawmakers have rejected several proposals to expand Medicaid in the state over the last few years.

The men face multiple charges including health care fraud and racketeering.

While the House declined Medicaid expansion, the Senate approved a bill to once again study expansion.