La. House Health Committee Rejects Medicaid Expansion

BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) — Efforts to expand Louisiana's  Medicaid program appear dead for the legislative session, after a House committee rejected multiple bills to give government-funded health care to more adults.

The House Health and Welfare Committee voted 12-4 Wednesday against a Medicaid expansion proposal from Rep. Herbert Dixon, a Democrat from Alexandria.

Two other bills sponsored by Democrats were later killed with similar votes. The Senate already had refused the expansion.

The expansion would offer Medicaid coverage to adults making up to 138 percent of the federal poverty level — less than $33,000 for a family of four. The federal government would pay most of the cost.

Supporters say the coverage would save lives. Opponents called it a costly and unsustainable government expansion.

The votes fell largely across party lines, with Republicans opposed.

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