A Wyoming bill that allocates $3 million for hospitals struggling to cover uncompensated care costs for people without insurance will become law without the signature of Gov. Matt Mead (R), according to a Casper Star-Tribune report.
Earlier this week, Gov. Mead sent a letter to Wyoming Secretary of State Edward Murray, expressing his dissatisfaction with the bill. He said the bill, which creates two separate funds to assist hospitals with the burden of uncompensated care and with the issue of limited cash reserves, is not effective at addressing critical healthcare and access to healthcare issues. He said the legislation doesn't fully address Wyoming's healthcare issues, such as the high cost of care, the estimated 17,000 uninsured who fall into the coverage gap, and those hospitals with limited reserves.
He argues that Medicaid expansion it the better option, as it "could insure those who fall in the coverage gap, reduce uncompensated care numbers buttress hospital reserves and bring Wyoming tax dollars back to Wyoming."
The Wyoming Senate defeated a bill to expand the state's Medicaid program last month.
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