SALT LAKE CITY (AP) —
The Latest on the first day of the Utah Legislature (all times local):
5 p.m.
Hundreds of demonstrators have rallied at the Utah capitol to shield a voter-approved Medicaid expansion from lawmakers’ efforts to change the measure to control costs.
Advocates told a crowd of about 300 people on Monday that changes could delay the expected April 1 rollout for months or years, leaving people without health care that could save lives.
Activist Paul Gibbs says Medicaid has been essential to kidney treatments that total tens of thousands of dollars, and his aunt died of cancer before she could be approved. He says Utah voters approved the expansion, and “no one has the right to take that away.”
State leaders who long refused to expand Medicaid said they will implement the measure that won at the ballot box, but have to make changes to control costs. They point to a state budget analysis that found the program could fall $10.4 million short by the year 2021.
2 p.m.
Republican Senate President Stuart Adams says most Utah lawmakers are committed to fully expanding Medicaid, despite some efforts to repeal the voter-approved measure or make major changes.
But he said Monday the expansion to cover people who make up to 138 percent of the poverty line must still be done in a “fiscally prudent way.”
Exactly what that means is still up in the air, but Sen. Daniel Hemmert says lawmakers will likely tweak the measure to be something between what was passed by the voters and a full repeal.
While Democrats say the Legislature should largely leave the law alone, many Republicans are a voter-approved sales tax increase won’t cover costs.
They point to a state analysis that predicted at $10.4 million shortfall by 2021.
11:38 a.m.
New Utah House Speaker Brad Wilson says that if lawmakers don’t fix the state’s tax structure, the state general fund could run short within a few years, leaving it unable to fund roads, public safety and other government programs.
Delivering his opening remarks on the first day of the legislative session Monday, he says that restructuring to tax more services will also allow the state to cut taxes overall by $225 million.
Wilson says that other major issues this year include school safety and “smart investments” on air quality and infrastructure.
New Senate President Stuart Adams urged lawmakers to work together and strive to make Utah a model state for education and air quality. He also suggested replacing the old state building on Capitol grounds with more parking.
6:00 am
Hours after the Utah Legislature opens its 2019 session on Monday, concerned supporters of a voter-approved measure to fully expand Medicaid were expected to rally to ask lawmakers not to change the law.
Changes could delay the expected April 1 rollout for months or years, leaving people without health care they have been counting on, said Stacy Stanford with the Utah Health Policy Project.
“They’re excited, and they’re desperate,” Stanford said. She estimates the Monday afternoon rally could draw hundreds of people.
State leaders have said they plan to implement Medicaid expansion, but want to make changes to control costs.
A proposal by Republican Sen. Allen Christensen of North Ogden would cap enrollment and include a work requirement, changes that would require a potentially lengthy approval process from the federal government.
For expansion supporters, that would “amount to a repeal,” Stanford said.
Christensen has said a sales tax increase included in the ballot measure won’t cover the full cost. Advocates say it will cover the program for at least two years, and any negotiations about funding could happen after the program is rolled out.
The sales tax increase is expected to generate $90 million that will combine with $800 million in federal money.
Advocates got the issue on the ballot after the GOP-dominated legislature refused to fully expand Medicaid under President Barack Obama’s signature health care law, citing cost concerns.
The plan approved by voters provides health care coverage to an estimated 150,000 low-income Utah residents.
Utah is one of three Republican-leaning states where full Medicaid expansion won the vote in November after years of resistance from state lawmakers.
In Idaho, Gov. Brad Little has also voiced the possibility of a work requirement or work training. In Nebraska, though, the rollout is on track, despite some lingering concern from lawmakers.
