West Virginia To Move Forward With Medicaid Expansion

Main Category: Medicare / Medicaid / SCHIP
Article Date: 02 Mar 2009 - 2:00 PDT

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West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources Secretary Martha Walker on Monday said the agency will move forward with Gov. Joe Manchin's (D) plans to extend Medicaid to working adults with incomes up to 50% of the federal poverty level, the AP/Charleston Daily Mail reports. The current eligibility threshold is 35% of the poverty level for adults with children. The proposal would extend benefits to childless adults and could allow the state to eventually increase the income limit to 100% of the poverty level.

The cost of the expansion, how many adults would become eligible and the types of benefits that will be provided have not been determined. State Bureau for Medical Services Commissioner Marsha Morris said the details are being developed and likely will allow the state to increase the income threshold beyond 50% of the poverty level without having to request CMS permission each time. She added that the agency will use several funding sources for the expansion including Medicaid, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program and other programs (AP/Charleston Daily Mail, 2/23).

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