Democrats Question Mead about Medicaid Expansion

CHEYENNE, Wyo. (AP) — Two Democratic lawmakers questioned Gov. Matt Mead about his recommendation that Wyoming not expand Medicaid to offer health insurance to low-income adults.

The Republican governor told members of the Legislature's Joint Appropriations Committee in Cheyenne on Monday that he has concerns about the implementation of the federal Affordable Care Act so far. He questioned federal promises to pick up most future expansion costs.

Mead says lawmakers shouldn't accept the federal government's offer to pick up the bulk of the cost of adding more than 16,000 adults to Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act.

Sen. John Hastert, a Democrat from Green River, and Rep. Ken Esquibel, a Democrat from Cheyenne, questioned Mead about that program, saying it would help people who need insurance. They noted the state takes other federal funds.