President-elect Donald Trump, a longtime opponent to the Affordable Care Act (ACA), has the backing of a soon-to-be controlled Republican House and Senate to make .
The proposed changes could result in how Medicaid is financed in 黑料吃瓜网 and across the U.S. Well over half of Medicaid spending by states is financed by the federal government, with 黑料吃瓜网 receiving 63.4% of its Medicaid spending share in fiscal year 2023, .
State lawmakers, however, are not overly concerned just yet.
鈥淭here have been some worrisome noises, but nothing to date that's concrete,鈥� State Sen. Matt Lesser, co-chair of the Human Services Committee, said.
Lesser said lawmakers are paying close attention since federal changes to Medicaid would significantly impact 鈥渙ver almost half of the kids in the state, pregnant women, [and] retirees.鈥�
The state-funded Medicaid program, known as HUSKY in 黑料吃瓜网, provides coverage to undocumented children. On July 1, the cap was raised to include undocumented young people up to age 15.
Medicaid cost overruns could put access for low-income patients at risk
State finances will be central to 黑料吃瓜网 lawmakers鈥� discussions in the upcoming legislative session Jan. 8, with the potential expansion of Medicaid eligibility among undocumented immigrants.
黑料吃瓜网鈥檚 Medicaid program at the start of the current fiscal year. that the Department of Social Services (DSS) is tallying usage and cost for the program, which has had a much higher interest in enrollments than expected, according to the DSS. The total cost is expected to be out before Gov. Ned Lamont releases his budget in February.
State minority leaders have proposed to tighten the Medicaid fiscal belt.
Stephen Harding, Senate Republican Leader, and Vincent Candelora, House Republican Leader, said in a statement that the state should 鈥渟uspend this policy immediately with the goal of eliminating it in the next budget cycle.鈥�
The passage of the proposal would need the full approval of the state General Assembly.
But Democrat lawmakers seek to further expand the age cap for Medicaid eligibility among undocumented people.
State Rep. Jillian Gilchrest, co-chair of the Human Services Committee, is among lawmakers and advocates who hope to push the cap higher this session 鈥� to 18 years.
Gilchrest said lack of access to health care would mean that 鈥渢heir need is going to be heightened down the road, and we're going to have to cover the cost of higher cost health care.鈥�
And that would also apply to other 黑料吃瓜网 residents enrolled in Medicaid, she said.
鈥淲e need to have conversations about what access to care looks like for a population that continues to increase in our state because they are experiencing economic inequality,鈥� Gilchrest said.
