GENERAL ASSEMBLY: State House passes bill calling for Virginia Medicaid audit
RICHMOND—The House of Delegates on Monday passed a resolution calling for an in-depth audit of Virginia’s Medicaid program, something supporters say is overdue and opponents say is a tactic to delay expansion of eligibility.
The resolution calls on the legislature’s study arm, the Joint Legislative Audit Review Commission, to conduct “an independent, comprehensive operational and financial audit” of the Medicaid program.
Republicans say such an audit hasn’t been done and is critical before Republicans would consider expanding Medicaid to cover more low-income Virginians.
Whether you’re for or against expansion, said Del. Dave Albo, R–Fairfax, an audit of such a large program is a good idea.
Democrats, who want to expand Medicaid during this session, say an audit is just an attempt to put off expansion.
Medicaid expansion is this session’s biggest issue, and one that is heading toward a fight within budget negotiations. Senators last week introduced a private-option proposal to expand coverage without it being exactly expansion of Medicaid eligibility, and they said that proposal will be contained in the Senate budget that will be unveiled this Sunday.
The House budget is not at all likely to contain any such thing. Both sides must agree on a single budget proposal by the end of the session.
Under the Affordable Care Act, states were to expand the Medicaid program to cover people earning up to 138 percent of the Federal Poverty Level ($15,856 for an individual or $26,951 for a family of three in 2013). The law requires the federal government to pay for 100 percent of expansion costs the first three years, then 90 percent thereafter.
But the U.S. Supreme Court struck down the Medicaid expansion provision in the law, saying it should be an option for states.
An expansion in Virginia would provide coverage to about 400,000 people, according to health policy estimates.
Chelyen Davis: 804/343-2245
