Las Vegas Sun

May 25, 2013

Currently: 81° | Complete forecast | Log in

Sandoval opts to expand Medicaid coverage for Nevada’s neediest

Updated Tuesday, Dec. 11, 2012 | 7:20 p.m.

Saying it will save Nevada money in the short-run despite posing a long-term burden on the state’s general fund budget, Gov. Brian Sandoval announced today he will expand Medicaid to provide health insurance for more low-income Nevadans under the Affordable Care Act. After this summer’s U.S. Supreme Court ruling upholding the new federal health care law, states had the ability to reject expanding Medicaid — the federal health insurance program for the poor — to those making 138 percent of poverty level, as well as single, childless adults. But following pressure from health care professionals, advocates for the poor, and ...

Discussion: 8 comments so far…

Comments are moderated by Las Vegas Sun editors. Our goal is not to limit the discussion, but rather to elevate it. Comments should be relevant and contain no abusive language. Comments that are off-topic, vulgar, profane or include personal attacks will be removed. Full comments policy. Additionally, we now display comments from trusted commenters by default. Those wishing to become a trusted commenter need to verify their identity or sign in with Facebook Connect to tie their Facebook account to their Las Vegas Sun account. For more on this change, read our story about how it works and why we did it.

  1. Just like his mentor Guinn. A wolf in sheeps clothing.

  2. The old people should be happy.

    Medicare got whacked by some $800 billlion to pay for this.

  3. Governor Sandoval is just like his mentor (Gov. Guinn)... a stand-up gentleman who has the entire state's best interest at heart and doesn't get bogged down in the petty crap most espouse in comments on this board!

  4. Another government official trying to buy votes.

    That's all this is. We've seen in before. 99% of the time it's Democrats.

  5. Great news! I'm liking this Governor more and more. The biggest danger I see is the chance that Angle will start warming up in the bull****pen

  6. Hey teabags, dittoheads and Republinuts, I think you got peed on, ha ha ha

    The Republicans want to raise medicare age from 65 to 67 ....Rock.

    The 800 billion (in the Ryan budget plan as well)is a savings created by insuring more people between 55 and 65, that way they do not have major medical problems when they reach 65.

    Some Prison medical costs can be covered by medicare in 2014 under the ACA.

    The makes Attorney Mark Huthchinson look even more stupid (he volunteered to fight the ACA before the courts and lost thanks to Justice Roberts) now his Republican GOVO.2 has throwen him under the bus.

  7. He has made a wise decision that will support Nevada's sustainability by ensuring its citizens are healthy enough to be productive. Wonderful example of upstream thinking!

  8. "it will save Nevada money in the short-run despite posing a long-term burden on the state's general fund budget", just another politician. This is the worst Democratic governor elected in Nevada history.

  9. The real savings will come from local government budgets. Clark County taxpayers spend 200+ million per year subsidizing University Medical Center. The main drivers of the costs at UMC are uninsured patients.

    The reality is there will be long-term savings overall when including all of the local government budgets...not just the state budget. Why does the Sandoval administration constantly hide this fact? Does he want what is best for the State of Nevada or Carson City?

  10. But, she added, "It's an economic driver. We need to expand Medicaid, no question."

    If that's the case, then everybody with private health insurance should cancel their coverages, go on Medicaid and we will finally get out of this recession.

    Obviously Assembly Speaker Marilyn Kirkpatrick has no idea how economies actually work.

  11. Sandoval= Bigger Goverment and less Jobs

  12. This will do little to help our problem in Nevada. There are half a million uninsured patients in Clark County alone. Expanding Medicaid and adding 78,000 is not a big help. Then there is the access problem. Not many doctors are willing to accept Medicaid and there are fewer every day.

  13. Vermont and Hawaii have 5.5 % unemployment. They have plenty of liberal government. North Carolina has 9.3% unemployment, a tbag state.

    Sandoval will be appointed to Obama's cabnit or made an Ambassador to a Mexico.

  14. mred California more than makes up for any so called tbags state un-employment not to mention there $162 billion debt that will never be paid for..

  15. Sandoval can read the tea leaves: Nevada is becoming a blue state and he wants to get re-elected. Even though Obamacare (including the individual mandate) is a republican idea, it is progress and America has always been a progressive country.

  16. <<If that's the case, then everybody with private health insurance should cancel their coverages, go on Medicaid and we will finally get out of this recession>>

    @Noindex:
    LOLOLOLOL That means everyone will have to either: (1) quit their jobs and have no income whatsoever (2) develop some sort of disability, (3) go into a nursing home after using up all their financial assets, or (4) just be old and be living in poverty. THEN they can qualify for Medicaid.

Post a comment

Commenting requires registration.

Comments are moderated by Las Vegas Sun editors. Our goal is not to limit the discussion, but rather to elevate it. Comments should be relevant and contain no abusive language. Comments that are off-topic, vulgar, profane or include personal attacks will be removed. Full comments policy.

If you would like to submit your comment as a letter to the editor, you may submit it here.

Most Popular