The Denver Post reports: Colorado plans Medicaid expansion, claims cost savings in process
Colorado plans to expand Medicaid coverage next year to cover more than 160,000 additional low-income adults, aided by cost-control savings of more than $280 million over the next 10 years, Gov. John Hickenlooper announced Thursday.
“This is a step toward what we have talked about for a couple of years: How can we make sure we’re making Colorado the single healthiest state in America?” Hickenlooper said.
Through 2016, the federal government covers the entire cost of the expansion, which comes under provisions of the Affordable Care Act. The governor said he anticipates that even when federal funding for the expansion is reduced, “not one dollar of general-fund money will be used to replace it.” (emphasis added – Chris)
This is Government and Hickenlooper is a politician. Hey, Gov John, I’ll be kind and simply say “I don’t believe you”.
A few weeks ago the Denver Post editorial board expressed their concerns: Sticker shock on Medicaid costs
An estimate that expanding Medicaid in Colorado could cost $858 million over 10 years gives us pause.
Indeed it should.