Health organizations support Medicaid expansion

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A number of Wyoming health care organizations held a news conference in Cheyenne urging state lawmakers to pass a bill that would expand Medicaid services to more state residents.

Wyoming Hospital Association Director Dan Perdue says the bill will improve health care for more citizens.  He says it will also save the state money.

“Expansion of Medicaid will allow the state to alter reduce or eliminate programs that the state already pays for from the state general fund,” Perdue says. “So, in essence, if we do nothing it will cost us over 79 million dollars over 7 years.  However, if the state chooses to accept the expansion, the state will gain over 49 million dollars.”

The Senate Health and Labor committee will take the bill up Wednesday morning