CHEYENNE—Tonight the House Revenue Committee passed House Bill 162 a bill that will increase access to Medicaid for thousands of low-income, hard-working Wyoming residents who are currently uninsured.
Healthy Wyoming, a coalition of dozens of groups across working to expand the Medicaid health insurance program in Wyoming, has worked tirelessly at the grassroots and grasstops to advance bills in both chambers during the 66th Wyoming Legislature.
The bill’s sponsors brought forward a standing committee amendment that changed the language of HB162 to match the language in Senate File 154, another Medicaid expansion bill still advancing in the upper chamber. That amendment was adopted 5-3. The bill then passed by the same margin.
Proponents from Healthy Wyoming immediately celebrated the victory and then vowed to get back to work to pass Medicaid expansion.
Jen Simon, senior policy advisor with Equality State Policy Center, said, “This vote is a watershed. Our elected officials have heard from thousands of Wyomingites who have made clear: Now is the time for Wyoming to expand Medicaid.”
In a statement, R.J. Ours, the government relations director for the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network said, “Medicaid expansion is critical to saving lives from cancer. The health insurance coverage provided through Medicaid helps to improve outcomes, save lives and reduce the burden of cancer by offering access to primary and preventive care, timely cancer screenings and early detection services, and affordable treatments and care.
Join thousands of Wyomingites in powering the movement for a Healthy Wyoming!
