Texas is the biggest get remaining for Obamacare’s Medicaid expansion, and recent reports indicate that the state’s incoming governor is taking a look at it.
The San Antonio Express-News reported last week that governor-elect Greg Abbott asked about Utah’s recently agreed-upon alternative Medicaid expansion plan during a recent private meeting with state lawmakers. Abbott was looking for additional information about that conservative state’s model, according to the report.
“I don’t even know anything about the Utah model, but it was encouraging because it sounded like at least he’s looking at options,” Carol Alvarado, one of the Democratic legislators who attended the meeting, said. “It was like, if he’s bringing this up, he’s not shutting the door on it. I think he’s open to looking at it.”
Abbott’s office declined to comment on the report. His predecessor, outgoing Gov. Rick Perry, has been one of the most steadfast opponents of accepting the key provision of Obamacare.
Texas is the biggest holdout on Medicaid expansion: More than 1 million low-income residents would qualify for health coverage under the program.
