Arizona Will Extend Medicaid Program

Various states are contemplating whether or not to extend Medicaid programs under the healthcare reform act. The Washington Street Journal reports that Arizona is the latest state to officially extend the Medicaid program for its residents:

Arizona legislators voted to extend the state’s Medicaid program to include all adults earning a little more than the poverty level Thursday, giving a hard-fought victory to GOP Gov. Jan Brewer who had spent months campaigning for the move.

Ms. Brewer had held rallies across the state since January to persuade Republican legislators to go along with her decision to adopt a key part of the federal health-care law, the growth of the Medicaid health program to include millions more low-income adults, after the Supreme Court decision a year ago effectively allowed states to choose whether to participate.

“I am grateful to the Arizona lawmakers who have acted with courage and conviction by completing the people’s business,” Ms. Brewer said in a statement after the expansion passed the state senate Thursday afternoon.

Read the full story here: http://on.wsj.com/14AJR6P