Issue Position: Health Care

Issue Position

One of the big questions that the Legislature had to answer this year was whether Utah should choose to expand Medicaid coverage or not and if so to what extent? Part of the Affordable Care Act (ACA), known as Obamacare, automatically expands coverage to some of our citizens. We do not have a choice on a portion of the expansion, but there was a choice on other parts of what is considered Optional Expansion. The Legislature and Governor agreed early on that a full expansion wasn't in the best interests of Utah taxpayers, but that left some Utahns without viable coverage options. I'm supportive of the Governor's plan to seek a federal waiver for a partial expansion that would draw down federal funds in a block grant and allow Utah to purchase private insurance plans for those Utahns that aren't covered by Medicaid and can't afford insurance on their own.

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