In April of last year, the Center on Budget and Policy Properties (“CBPP”) released a report detailing which states have and have not expanded their Medicaid program to low-income adults through the Affordable Care Act. At that time, 21 states had yet to jump on board, including Virginia, Florida, Texas, and several others.
The assumption of some states was that the ACA and Medicaid expansion would present severe financial burdens. However, 2015 reports from the CBPP have advised that was not the case. Additionally, a recent CPBPP analysis continues to show that this assumption remains false. The CBPP noted that the plan set forth by President Obama through the Affordable Care Act is stabilized and produces no significant financial strain on the federal budget. To date, 31 states have now joined this expansion and even reduced costs through the ACA, by way of healthcare reform in hospitals, mental health facilities and other services offered to the low-income adults.
Despite the positive results, some states remain doubtful. At the close of 2015, Virginia still remained firm on their position to decline expansion, as state Republicans have noted a staggering $1 billion in projected costs, not taking into account the savings presented by the Department of Medical Assistance Services, which in some cases would include the federal government covering almost 90% of medical bills for low income residents.