Medicaid Expansion to Impact Wright Memorial Hospital

TRENTON, MO — Daniel Landon, senior vice president of governmental relations with the Missouri Hospital Association, recently spoke to the topic of Medicaid expansion, which began as part of the “Obamacare” legislation passed in 2010. States have been given the option to adopt expansion of Medicaid, which would allow for the federal government to pay all costs associated with adding new Medicaid recipients over the next three years. After that point, the federal government will pay 90 percent of the cost. States currently pay 35 percent of the cost for Medicaid. Landon discussed support of the issue by Gov. Jay Nixon and backed by such groups as the Missouri Hospital Association, the Missouri Chamber of Commerce, Associated Industries and other local chambers across the state. It is their belief the expansion would not cost the state due to the federal funds being used to help pay for costs now being covered with state monies as well as job creation, which Landon said will result in more taxes being paid by persons who not only have jobs, but go out and buy items. For Wright Memorial Hospital located in Trenton, not implementing the Medicaid expansion will cost the facility around $2.2 million from 2012 to 2019.