Legislature 2009: Health Care

"While other states are looking to cut back their Medicaid programs," The Associated Press reports, "West Virginia is doing the opposite, although crucial details like cost are proving elusive."

The AP's Tom Breen explains that Gov. Joe Manchin has proposed allowing working adults "earning up to 50 percent of the federal poverty limit - which is $10,830 for individuals - to qualify for Medicaid, with an eye toward expanding that percentage, perhaps to as much as 100 percent."

West Virginia has one of the nation's toughest eligibility standards for adults without children to enroll in Medicaid, the state-federal health coverage program for the poor and disabled.

Health and Human Resources Secretary Martha Walker discussed the governor's proposal while outlining her department's proposed budget to the House Finance Committee on Monday. "But the cost, how many adults would be newly eligible and what kind of benefits they may receive are still being determined," Breen notes.

Walker also said that she plans to use the federal stimulus bill's Medicaid funds "for one-time expenses, rather than creating new programs or expanding old programs that will leave funding gaps once the stimulus money dries up," AP reports.

Federal officials announced later that day that the initial batch of those funds -- including $76.4 million for West Virginia -- would roll out Wednesday.

The Charleston Gazette also covered the DHHR budget hearing, while AP reports separately that nationally, "health-care costs will top $8,000 per person this year, consuming an ever-bigger slice of a shrinking economic pie."