By Jeremy Duda and Luige del Puerto
Arizona Capitol Times
In what is probably the biggest policy agenda of her administration for the coming year, Gov. Jan Brewer said today she is prepared to fight for Medicaid expansion.
Brewer made the comments during her fourth State of the State address. She said her Medicaid plan will take advantage of available federal dollars by allowing hospitals to assess a fee.
But she also wants to ensure that Arizona doesn’t get trapped in case the federal government decides to cut back or limit any Medicaid funding to states.
Her plan for Arizona’s version of Medicaid, the Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System, will include a trigger to allow the state to roll back its Medicaid rolls should that happen. Brewer said federal dollars would be spent elsewhere if Arizona doesn’t get its share.
Additionally, she said the federal affordable care act is now the law of the land. Expanding Medicaid would also infuse $2 billion into the state’s economy, she said.
“I’m committed to doing this. I want you on my side,” she said of her plan to expand health care coverage.
Click here STATE OF STATE 2013 for full text
Additional Medicaid info: Medicaid – Budget Message and Medicaid Rec
Also: Kyl urges Legislature to cooperate with feds for immigration reform
