Update on governors accepting or refusing the expanding of ACA (Obamacare):

[Sarah Ibarruri]

Last edited Mon Mar 31, 2014, 01:19 PM - Edit history (1)

Here are the states whose governors signed to allow the expansion of ACA (Obamacare):

•Arizona: On June 17, 2013, Gov. Jan Brewer (R) signed into law legislation that will expand Medicaid to an additional 350,000 people in the state. The signing came after Brewer called a surprise special session on the 2014 budget and Medicaid to try to resolve a deadlock among lawmakers on the two issues.

•Arkansas: Gov. Mike Beebe (D) on April 23, 2013, signed the state's expansion plan into law. Under the plan, Arkansas would accept the federal money for Medicaid expansion provided through the ACA but would use it to buy private insurance for about 250,000 eligible low-income residents. The federal government approved the plan in September 2013.

•California: Gov. Jerry Brown (D) on June 27, 2013, signed legislation that would expand the state's Medicaid program, Medi-Cal, to more than 1.4 million additional residents under the ACA.

•Colorado: Gov. John Hickenlooper (D) signed the expansion into law on May 13, 2013. He says that the expansion will save the state $280 million over 10 years and help cover an additional 160,000 adults.

•Connecticut: Gov. Dannel Malloy (D) was among the first governors to sign up for the Medicaid expansion after the ACA was enacted. The state was one of five states that opted to expand eligibility early.

•Delaware: Gov. Jack Markell (D) in January 2013 reiterated his support for the Medicaid expansion, including an additional $35.8 million for Medicaid in his FY 2014 spending plan. On July 1, 2013, Markell signed a FY 2014 budget plan that includes $29.8 million to "fund the State's Medicaid commitment."

•District of Columbia: D.C. Mayor Vincent Gray (D) in a statement on June 28, 2012, said, "The District is not at risk of losing any Medicaid funding as a result of [the Supreme Court] ruling, because District officials have already begun implementation of the ACA's Medicaid-expansion provisions and will continue to implement the expansion." D.C. sought permission from the federal government to expand its Medicaid program on May 13, 2010. The move expanded Medicaid to an additional 35,000 residents.

•Hawaii: Gov. Neil Abercrombie (D) has said his state will participate in the expansion. In a statement on June 28, 2012, Abercrombie said, "The Affordable Care Act is our ally in this effort" to "to support a healthcare system that ensures high quality, safety and sustainable costs." According to the Department of Human Services, the state is expanding Medicaid eligibility through the ACA.

•Illinois: Gov. Pat Quinn (D) signed Medicaid expansion into law on July 22, 2013. Approximately 342,000 low-income Illinois residents will be newly insured under the expansion.

•Iowa: On Dec. 12, 2013, Gov. Terry Branstad (R) announced that his administration and the White House had agreed on the finals details of his plan to expand Medicaid. Two days earlier, CMS approved Iowa's alternate expansion proposal, which would allow the state to use federal funding under the ACA to help more than 100,000 low-income residents purchase private health coverage through the new Iowa Health and Wellness Plan. Branstad also proposed a small additional premium for certain beneficiaries. Under the agreement, Iowa will levy the additional premium on individuals with incomes exceeding 50% of the federal poverty level beginning in 2015. The state promised that it will not drop individuals' coverage if they fail to make payments.

•Kentucky: On May 9, 2013, Gov. Steve Beshear (D) said that expanding Medicaid is the right choice for Kentucky, noting that it would halve the number of uninsured in the state. He reiterated that sentiment in a Sept. 26, 2013, opinion piece in the New York Times. On Sept. 3, 2013, a federal judge cleared the way for the state to participate in the Affordable Care Act, ruling that the governor has the authority to expand Medicaid and establish an insurance exchange.

•Maryland: On May 5, 2013, Gov. Martin O'Malley (D) signed into law HB 228 to fully implement the Affordable Care Act.

•Massachusetts: On July 5, 2013, Gov. Deval Patrick (D) signed into law HB 3452, requiring Massachusetts to come into compliance with new federal regulations under the ACA. On July 12, 2013, Patrick signed into law the state's FY 2014 budget, which supports full implementation of the Affordable Care Act, including the Medicaid expansion.

•Michigan: On Sept. 3, 2013, the Michigan House voted 75-32 to grant final approval to a bill that would expand the state's Medicaid program beginning in April 2014. Gov. Rick Snyder (R) signed the bill into law on Sept. 16, 2013. The proposal contains cost-sharing provisions for Medicaid beneficiaries; it received federal approval in December.

•Minnesota: Gov. Mark Dayton (D) in February 2013 signed legislation that expanded Medicaid to an additional 35,000 childless, low-income adults in the state.

•Nevada: Gov. Brian Sandoval (R) in December 2012 became the first GOP governor to commit his state to expanding Medicaid under the ACA. According to Sandoval's announcement, nearly 78,000 Nevadans would be covered by the expansion.

•New Hampshire: On March 27, 2014, Gov. Maggie Hassan (D) signed bipartisan legislation (SB 413) to expand Medicaid coverage to an estimated 50,000 low-income state residents. Starting in April 2014, the state will move eligible residents into Medicaid programs. The plan then calls for enrolling those residents in private coverage options through the ACA insurance exchange in 2016, which would require a federal waiver. The law requires the state to receive that waiver by March 31, 2015; failure to do so would result in termination of the program three months later.

•New Jersey: Gov. Chris Christie (R) on June 28, 2013, signed a state budget that includes $227 million for Medicaid expansion in the state. However, he vetoed legislation that would have made the expansion permanent in the state.

•New Mexico: Gov. Susana Martinez (R) on Jan. 9, 2013, announced that the state would participate in the Medicaid expansion.
•New York: On June 28, 2012, in an announcement immediately following the Supreme Court's ruling on the ACA, Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D) said the state would participate in the expansion.

•North Dakota: Gov. Jack Dalrymple (R) in April 2013 signed legislation expanding Medicaid in the state.

•Ohio: The state's Controlling Board—a special bipartisan legislative panel—approved Medicaid expansion in 5-2 vote on Oct. 21, 2013, allowing Gov. John Kasich (R) to expand the program on Jan. 1, 2014, without approval from Ohio's Republican-controlled Legislature. Conservative lawmakers have pledged to mount a fierce legal campaign against the move.

•Oregon: The state has moved forward on Medicaid expansion with the support of Gov. John Kitzhaber (D). Starting on Jan. 1, 2014, state residents earning up to 138% FPL will qualify for Medicaid, up from 100% FPL in 2013.

•Rhode Island: On July 3, 2013, about one week before the state General Assembly adjourned for the year, Gov. Lincoln Chafee (I) signed a fiscal year 2014 budget measure that included a plan to expand Medicaid, which he endorsed in June 2012 and outlined in his 2014 budget proposal.

•Vermont: Health Care Access Commissioner Mark Larson in July 2012 said that Vermont would receive federal funds to expand its Medicaid program under the ACA. The expansion is expected to insure an additional 47,000 state residents.

•Washington: Gov. Jay Inslee (D) on June 30, 2013, signed a state budget that would expand Medicaid in the state.

•West Virginia: Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin (D) in May 2013 announced that the state would expand Medicaid, extending coverage to an additional 91,500 state residents.


http://www.advisory.com/daily-briefing/resources/primers/medicaidmap#lightbox/1/

Of course, my state is not on the list, Florida, but we have that Medicare fraud criminal of a Republican governor.

[napkinz]

1. shame on those governors refusing the expansion ...

[Sarah Ibarruri]

7. Thanks for posting that! nt

[freshwest]

9. Thanks for that last one! I'll be sharing it. n/t

[Sarah Ibarruri]

19. Thanks! I think people need to know some governors are refusing to allow the ACA expansion

for their own states and their people.

[Scuba]

2. "Wisconsin: Gov. Scott Walker (R) on Feb. 13, 2013, said Wisconsin will not participate ..."

From the link ...

Wisconsin: Gov. Scott Walker (R) on Feb. 13, 2013, said Wisconsin will not participate in the ACA Medicaid expansion, but will pursue its own strategy to expand health coverage across the state. In addition, the legislature's Joint Finance Committee in June 2013 voted against the expansion.

This has nothing to do with health care, Medicaid or the People of Wisconsin, but everything to do with Squat Wanker's Teabillie bona fides.

[ProSense]

3. That's 26 states and DC.

Thanks for the list

[Sarah Ibarruri]

6. You're welcome! nt

[L0oniX]

4. ...and Florida's asshole extrodinaire Rick Scott still kills people.

[Sarah Ibarruri]

5. Yup, he's hell-bent on it. nt

[Brigid]

8. Indiana is one of these idiotic states.

I reaaallly gotta consider moving once I finish school. This state cannot afford to lose educated people, but it gives us no reason to stay.

[CTyankee]

22. I have wanted to suggest that to some DUers from those states but I thought it would be

taken as an affront. I realize that lots of people just can't up and move out of their state, but I would hope some could, esp. those who live in states bordering on an ACA state.

I'm glad to hear that you are considering moving to an ACA state. Hey, come to CT! We're deep blue and have an excellent system with the exchange, thanks to our very progressive governor. Our entire House and Senate representation are liberal Democrats so we are happy campers.

[Sarah Ibarruri]

35. Sounds awesome. :) nt

[freshwest]

10. Great post! Thanks Sarah! n/t

[sheshe2]

11. Thanks Sarah!

I hope that the states that have not will get push back from the voters in 2014.

[Sarah Ibarruri]

18. You're welcome. The refusal to expand by some governors will cause people to leave nt

[TeeYiYi]

12. I'm a statistic...

I applied for ACA and was informed that I qualify for Medicaid. When I contacted Medicaid, I was informed that I don't qualify because I don't have any kids and I'm not "disabled."

I don't blame anyone for this boondoggle but the stupid, ignorant, short-sighted state I live in and the criminal republican machine running it. I live in Utah.



TYY

[Brigid]

13. I am in exactly the same situation.

I said so here in DU, and was accused of lying and having an "agenda.". The truth is, this is what is happening in states that didn't expand Medicaid. Yes, I'm still sore about that, why do you ask?

[Sarah Ibarruri]

15. Yes it is. What will happen when people start relocating to states that have the expansion? nt

[Brigid]

16. I'm putting the idea on the agenda for when when I finish school.

If this screwed-up state does not expand Medicaid by then, I'm gone. I have my eye on Chicago.

[Sarah Ibarruri]

17. I can foresee that happening with many people! I'd do it too

The expansion states will be overloaded with folks. There has to be a solution - some way to force the no-expansion states accept the expansion.

[VanillaRhapsody]

27. It was the WAY you broached the situation....

[Glitterati]

29. Don't blame HER for your reaction

Your behavior was atrocious and inexcusable.

[VanillaRhapsody]

30. And YOU sang the same tune...

from the "blame President Obama for everything" choir...

[Glitterati]

32. Just countering your BS

cause I can dish it out as fast as you can.

[VanillaRhapsody]

33. but it has to BE bullshit for that to work.....

you DID blame President Obama and the Affordable Care Act in general for your governor preventing you from getting Affordable Healthcare.

[Glitterati]

37. Of course, you would be wrong again.

But, you do that daily. Nothing new.

[VanillaRhapsody]

39. Nope you cannot run away from that....

[Glitterati]

40. Too old to run

But I sure can fling poo just as steadily as you can.

[VanillaRhapsody]

41. difference is...your poo is the bull kind...

[Glitterati]

42. ROFL, you're too funny

Hysterical even.

[VanillaRhapsody]

45. You do know the history of the word...

hysterical right?

[Glitterati]

46. No time for a conversation with you

I have absolutely no intention of wasting my time with an attempt at a conversation with you.

Your behavior proves that's nothing but a waste of time and effort.

[VanillaRhapsody]

47. Yeah right......changed your mind huh?

[Sarah Ibarruri]

14. I know someone who needs surgery and lives in Georgia. The governor there said no to expansion...

so she is unable to get the ACA and get treatment for her condition, which requires surgery. Every time she goes to the ER, the bill goes to collection, and she owes a lot of money right now because hospitals in Georgia are "automatic lien" hospitals, and will collect the amount from the client, and send it to collections.

Right now she is looking into moving in with her mom who lives in one of the states that has the expansion. What I'm wondering is, will states that accepted the expansion end up with an influx of people moving there just to get ACA coverage?

[Glitterati]

20. Some will, yes

But I doubt people with family in one of these red states are going to up and move away from family and a support system.

I, too, live in Georgia and dealt with the "you qualify for medicaid except your don't because your governor didn't accept the medicaid expansion" with my 18 yr. old daughter. Since she's in college and works part time, she qualified for medicaid - technically, anyway.

But, we just went on healthcare.gov and estimated her 2014 income to equal her 2013 income which we know will not happen, but she's wasn't going uninsured another year because of Nathan Deal.

I think what is much more likely to happen, instead of people uprooting to get ACA, is that they are going to replace the governors, like Nathan Deal, with folks like Jason Carter.

Sadly, thanks to the Georgia legislature, they saw this coming and changed the law so that we will have to replace the majority of the state legislature to get expanded Medicaid.

[Sarah Ibarruri]

21. Georgia (like Florida, where I live) is quite a piece of work, isn't it? nt

[Glitterati]

23. It's particularly galling, because

half of the current "republicans" were Democrats, who ran for re-election on Democratic support and money and switched parties 3 days after the election.

Georgia "Democrats" GAVE the republicans control of the state Senate 3 days after the election, when 4 "Democrats" changed parties.

Hell, even former Governor Sonny Perdue was once a Democrat.

Georgia politics are nothing short of infuriating because you can't even vote for Democrats and win.

[Sarah Ibarruri]

26. It's the people in those states. When I moved up to N. Florida (near GA) from Miami...

I was pretty shocked at the level of ignorance at the Georgians I was meeting. They're stereotypes come to life. Ignorant, right wing for no logical reason they can explain, and living miserable lives. I can say the same of the small towns in Florida. Just plain ignorant people.

[VanillaRhapsody]

28. the beatings will continue until morale improves...

[Glitterati]

31. I know what you mean

I live in a north Georgia county that epitomizes these ignorant people.

There's not one Democrat on the ballot in my county for the May primary. Not one.

The primary was to be my daughter's first election since becoming old enough to vote. But, there's only republicans on the ballot - racist teapublicans no less.

But, you go on their county websites, and they are the most miserable, hate filled people on the planet. Weeks after an election, the hate starts - for the very people THEY elected. They find something "criminal" to blame on every politician THEY put in office (of course, it's just their crazy definition of criminal) and start 2 years of straight out bitching and complaining.

They're simply never happy. They honestly hate each other more than they do Democrats, I think.

[Sarah Ibarruri]

34. I know! I think it boils down to racism.

The ones voting against their own self interests are poor Southern whites. Poor non-whites are wiser in that regard and don't have to vote against themselves.

We think of the Civil War as being something long past. However, it is still quite fresh in the minds and hearts of poor Southern whites. They inherited that "sense" of white superiority from their poor white families and ancestors, ancestors who might have gone hungry, but by golly gee at least they felt superior compared with non-whites. They could boss around non-whites, they could go hungry but saw that non-whites went even hungrier than they did, and they felt special because there was that group that had less of everything, and which had once been considered not to be human, but property. Southern poor whites felt that if they had nothing else in this world, at least they had that - they were considered "superior" to non-whites. They long for that. It's what they've grown up around. It's the only thing they had that made their suffering tolerable, a superiority over non-whites.

Nowadays, as the U.S. hobbles and limps toward full racial equality, that superiority and sense of importance is being stripped away bit by bit from them, and they are forced to face that they truly have nothing. That must feel hellish to Southern poor whites. They learned racism on their ancestors' knees and clung to that because it was the only thing that made them feel special.

In the absence of exposure to a higher education (not necessarily schooling - I think most of what we learn we learn, we learn from people we are exposed to, not from books and teachers), all they are stuck with is a very limited world and world view, which struggles to cling to the vestiges of that sense of "white superiority" their ancestors once felt, and that disdain for non-whites which still gets passed on from poor Southern white family to family. That sense of importance for being white can even be found in their small churches, where they worship their white Jesus among other poor whites, and grasp desperately at proof that they are still as important as they were when at least they were more "important" than non-whites. Otherwise, all they will be able to see in the mirror is poverty and ignorance.

Of the two parties in the U.S., the one that is indisputably racist in every imaginable way, also happens to be the one that has been working overtime for 33 years to tear to shreds the very programs that Southern poor whites depend on and need to survive. It's the party that fights tooth and nail to destroy any public education, because the GOP is terrified of the poor having access to good education. But Southern poor whites are single-minded and have never known much else but their pride in their white skin, so they hang on to their wish that the world were still a world of slavery, when they could feel important for having white skin, even if they barely had anything to put on the table for their families. Even those Southern poor whites who might realize that Republicans are out to destroy any lifeline they might now have, can't help themselves in voting for the savagely racist political party. It's an itch they just need to scratch.

Basically, the South is chronically ill with a deep-set racism that I had never witnessed before until I moved from Miami to North Florida, near Georgia. It is truly something to behold! I could write a book about the shit I've heard from Southern poor whites near here. As crazy a place as Miami is, nothing, nothing beats this for sheer insanity.

[Glitterati]

38. While many ARE racist, it's not racism that drives them

it's just ignorance.

Take for example one blogger who is the precedent for suing a blogger for libel. He's the first ever blogger made to pay for his garbage.

But, this man never learns. He's now been sued and lost 4 TIMES for libel.

And every single one of his lawsuits involved republican v. republican.

That takes sheer ignorance.

Yet, the man continues to repeat the same lies that cost him thousands of dollars in judgements.

Look him up - David Milum, Forsyth County, Georgia.

[Sarah Ibarruri]

48. Oh Lordy. He does this out of revenge? Such a delight. nt

[Glitterati]

49. It's just so crazy as to be unfathomable

You would think that when an attorney sues you for libel, he probably has a damned good case, no?

LOL, but he's like the energizer bunny, just keeps going and going and going.....

[Sarah Ibarruri]

52. I know! I think in addition to stupidity, there's that element of "I'm tough and I'm in-your-face"

That sort of thing. Not a winning combination.

[Brigid]

44. Try "Better Off Without 'Em" by Chuck Thompson.

His account of what he ran into down there is just amazing.

[Sarah Ibarruri]

50. I'm looking to buy it on Amazon as we speak. Thanks for the suggestion!! nt

[Lex]

24. The Repuke Governor is NC is a real piece of work. A Koch brothers' puppet.

I'm hoping he's a one-termer but he (and his cronies) can pillage and plunder and destroy a lot in 4 years time.

He'll never agree to help people who are hurting. That's not his style.

[Sarah Ibarruri]

25. All Southern states are in the same bind. It's as if they were jinxed. nt

[napkinz]

36. kick

nt

[malaise]

43. Excellent post

Rec

[mucifer]

51. Republicans running in Illinois are still campaigning against ACA

[Sarah Ibarruri]

53. I guess they do their party's bidding, and their party is fully against healthcare for all nt

[IronLionZion]

54. Any updates on VA? Dems swept the election last year. nt

[Sarah Ibarruri]

55. Only this: the gov said that the VA House of Delegates is making ACA money go to other states

http://www.politifact.com/virginia/statements/2014/mar/31/terry-mcauliffe/mcauliffe-says-legislatures-refusal-expand-medicai/