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Member's Press Release

Release Date: 05/02/2013
Contact: Senate President Jeffrey V. Kessler at 304.357.7801

President Kessler

Kessler Pleased With Governor's Decision on Medicaid Expansion

CHARLESTON, W.V. – Senate President Jeff Kessler (D-Marshall) applauded today the Governor’s decision to expand Medicaid to more than 90,000 uninsured West Virginians; saving businesses thousands of dollars by being exempt from the Affordable Care Act tax.

Earlier this year, 18 West Virginia lawmakers penned a letter to the Governor asking him to expand the Medicaid program.

Senate President Kessler says this is a momentous day for West Virginia. “I commend Governor Tomblin on his decision to expand Medicaid to West Virginia’s working families and pledge to work with him to make the program a success,” says Kessler. “The expansion will also be good for state businesses by providing a workforce that is healthier and better able to keep a job.”

Doctor and Chairman of the Senate Health and Human Resource Committee, Ron Stollings (D-Boone), says expanding Medicaid to 138 percent of the poverty line under the Affordable Care Act is simply the right thing to do.

“I am pleased with the Governor’s decision and applaud him on his efforts to move West Virginia forward,” says Stollings. “Medicaid expansion will not only provide insurance to the State’s working poor, it will reduce the financial burden on hospitals. When provided with insurance, West Virginians will seek medical care earlier and ultimately at a lower cost.”

Senators who signed onto the letter supporting Medicaid expansion were Senators William Laird (D-Fayette), Ronald Miller (D-Greenbrier), Jack Yost (D-Brooke), Rocky Fitzsimmons (D-Ohio), Herb Snyder (D-Jefferson), Donald Cookman (D-Hampshire) and Larry Edgell (D-Wetzel).


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