Corbett Weighing Medicaid Expansion if Tied to Changes

Gov. Corbett is considering an expansion of Medicaid to cover hundreds of thousands of uninsured residents if he can also win significant changes to the existing part of the entitlement program, which otherwise would continue in its current form.

Linking the two issues - a Medicaid expansion envisioned by the Affordable Care Act and money-saving changes in a program that he considers unsustainable - could achieve goals sought by liberals and conservatives. But it will require a delicate balancing act with both parties in Harrisburg as well as the Obama administration.

Any resolution must "marry" the two issues, Christine Cronkright, a spokeswoman for Corbett, said Tuesday: "ensuring access to quality and affordable health-care options while also looking at the fiscal reality."

She said reforming the current program, which consumes 27 percent of the state's general fund budget, must come first.

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Source: Philly.com