Christine Jordan Sexton
House Republicans are not working on a Medicaid expansion plan.
They also are not working on a health care bill that would affect commercial offerings outside of Medicaid, House Speaker Steve Crisafulli told reporters Thursday during a media availability after a full House session adjourned.
“We are focused on the position we are on and we are consistent with that,” Crisafulli said when asked whether the House Republicans were offering a Medicaid expansion model. “At this time the House is still in the position we’ve been since Day One.”
When asked whether “at this time” was qualifying, Crisafulli said, “I can only speak for where we are today. I never try to project the future or think of what the future looks like but certainly the House is focused on the work that we currently have in front of us. I’ll just say we are not looking at expanding Medicaid.”
Crisafulli said the House Republican Caucus has educated members about Medicaid expansion especially, for the new group of members who needed to understand the issue.
He added the Senate plan isn’t appealing to the House because of the “boatload” of waivers it would require.
The House, meanwhile, has been working on a bevy of health care bills — from measures that would allow advanced registered nurse practitioners to work independently from physicians to a measure that would allow individuals and employers to sign contracts with physicians to provide “direct primary care.”
Crisafulli, though, said there is no Republican health care plan in the works.
“As far as any other negotiations, no. There is nothing else on the table at this time with regards to health care.”
