The Senate of Utah approves a Medicaid self-canceling plan that could cost seven times more than the Prop 3

Senators from Utah voted on Monday 22-7 in favor of SB96, sending to the House a replacement Medicaid expansion plan, which initially costs much more money to cover fewer people than Proposition 3 approved by the electors, and would be abolished automatically if the state does not receive a federal funding waiver

The Senate postponed the final vote on the SB96 on Friday pending a new version of the bill and a cost estimate from budget analysts. The new bill and analysis were released over the weekend, showing that SB96 would cost $ 72 million over two years, compared to an estimated budget deficit of $ 10.4 million for Proposal 3 by 2021.

These forecasts were updated shortly before the debate. New figures suggest a cost of $ 49 million over two years for SB96, five times more than Prop 3. However, Senate leaders and the sponsor of the bill, North Ogden Republican Senator Allen Christensen, continued to quote the figure of $ 72 million during the debate media conversations after the vote.

"I think you're very clever if you can understand this budget note," Christensen said. "I've never seen such a complex note of my life." [19659002] Last week, Senate leaders acknowledged that their plan would initially be more expensive to implement than proposal 3. But these costs would eventually fall, he said, once the federal government is in power. pay 90% Medicaid costs in Utah.

But if this request is refused – no other State has received such an exemption – a provision of SB96 would automatically cancel the extension of Medicaid in that State.

"We are back to zero without expansion," Christensen said.

Christensen said that Utah's waiver was virtually guaranteed, but the Senate majority whip, Dan Hemmert, of R-Orem, said Monday It is necessary to pressure the federal administrators of Medicare Centers and Medicaid Services, or CMS.

"This provision is what gives CMS the motivation to work with us so that the wavier is granted," said Hemmert.

Monday's Senate The vote was the actual rehearsal of a preliminary vote held last week. The bill was largely adopted by the parties, and only Senator Todd Weiler, of R-Woods Cross, broke his party's rank to oppose SB96.

The Democrat minority of the House is strongly opposed, the six members opposing the replacement of Prop. 3 with a more restrictive proposal that imposes work requirements and registration caps on beneficiaries.

"I think it's time for us to do what people have asked us to do, not play games and not end up with a waiver system. Said Sen. Gene Davis, D-Salt Lake City. "We would probably be more likely to bet on the [Los Angeles] Rams at this point than to obtain those waivers."

Republican Senators argued that despite the majority's approval electors, proposal 3 is not paid over time and must be contained. to protect the state budget.

"A majority of voters can not override the laws of mathematics," said Senator Lincoln Fillmore, R-South Jordan. "The only way to respect the will of voters is to ignore it."

Compared to Proposition 3, which allows Utahns earning 138% of the federal poverty line to enroll in Medicaid, SB96 only covers individuals earning up to 100% of poverty. The remaining expansion population should purchase subsidized individual market insurance from the Affordable Care Act.

With the Senate plan only partially extending Medicaid, the federal government would initially assume 70% of state costs, compared with 90% for Prop. 3. SB96 is looking to launch a "bridge" expansion program on April 1, with the state assuming 30% of Medicaid costs over a period of up to 18 months or up to 18 months. that the federal government accepts a 90-10 equivalent for the smallest growing population. [19659002] The bill will now be submitted to the consideration of Utah House, where the leaders similarly support the replacement of Proposition 3.

But at least one member of the House Majority Republican Republican Bountiful, Ray Ward, believes that Proposition 3 can be implemented responsibly with only minor changes. He sponsored legislation that would create a dedicated budget reserve to fund the ongoing costs of extension, backed by a combination of sales tax revenue, Medicaid cost savings and a possible tax assessment of hospitals part of a Medicaid bill approved by lawmakers last.

"Hospitals do not lose money because right now they have people who do not pay money at all," Ward said. "It's very simple to be able to afford the costs of the program [full expansion] – if that's what we're trying to do."

Ward's bill, HB210, is currently being retained by the House Rules Committee, which must vote to make it available to a standing committee so that debate can begin. Ward said it was unlikely that the Senate bill would be referred to a standing committee unless SB96 fails in the House.

"So it will be a strong pressure to pass [SB96]."

Legislative leaders quickly responded to SB96, citing the need to put in place an alternative expansion program for Medicaid in order to initiate the application process to a federal law. waiver. This debate coincided with a rally of about 300 Proponents of Proposition 3 on the first day of the legislative session, a letter to SB96 signed by 40 religious and community leaders, and the launch of television ads this weekend criticizing legislators repeal an initiative approved by voters.

Monday's vote in the Senate has been criticized as being in direct contradiction with the will of the electors of the Alliance for a Better Utah, a left-wing advocacy organization. In a prepared statement, Better Utah executive director Chase Thomas described the process behind SB96 as "anti-democratic parody".

"In November, Utahns made it clear that they wanted a full expansion of Medicaid, paid for by increasing their own taxes," says Thomas. "This is not a compromise nor a financially responsible bill. It's simply a repeal of what voters have decided on the ballot. "

Andrew Roberts, a spokesman for Utah Decides – who sponsored the Prop 3 – said that the Senate had voted for the baby to be thrown to the bathing water.

"It is frustrating to see that the Legislature does not start at a place where they are trying to apply the Prop 3, but to a place where they are trying to abrogate it." [19659004] Asked about the next steps of the organization If SB96 is signed, Roberts argues that "everything is on the table."

"It will depend on the margin in the House, if it were to be adopted" Roberts said: "We are certainly exploring the referendum options [and] the legal options."

Utah allows the votes of the legislature to be overturned by referendum, but only if a bill does not reach the double veto veto and Senate