PA Medicaid expansion on hold as Corbett, lawmakers put off decision | PA Independent

"HARRISBURG – Republican senators dodged a potential up-or-down vote on Medicaid expansion Monday, but the delay strategy will only work for so long.

Lawmakers must approve a so-called “welfare code” by June 30 as part of the state budget that sets the rules for how billions of state and federal dollars will be used by various agencies. Legislators also must set what requirements must be met for individual eligibility for programs funded with those dollars.

In short: no welfare code bill, no state budget.

PUSHING FOR EXPANSION: State Sen. Vince Hughes, D-Philly, says the Democrats will use all available options to expand Medicaid in Pennsylvania.
But Senate Bill 977 is exactly the vehicle Democrats have targeted to force a vote on the expansion of Medicaid, a portion of the federal health reform law passed in 2010 that states must opt into before the end of this year."  Visit: PA Medicaid expansion on hold as Corbett, lawmakers put off decision | PA Independent: