DPW to Corbett: Tread carefully with Medicaid expansion

(Harrisburg) — With debate swirling over whether or not to expand Medicaid access in the commonwealth, the acting head of the state Department of Public Welfare is urging caution.

Beverly Mackereth comes to the office after previously serving as a state lawmaker and head of the York County Human Services Department.

She says expanding Medicaid to thousands of low-income Pennsylvanians should be examined closely because the program makes up a critical share of the state budget.

“Thirty percent of the general fund budget is Medicaid,” Mackereth says. “Seventy-five percent of the DPW budget is Medicaid. We can’t afford to make a mistake.”

Governor Corbett has opposed Medicaid expansion, but plans to meet with federal Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius to discuss the issue.

Under the Affordable Care Act, states have the option to expand Medicaid to persons making up to 133 percent of the federal poverty line.

The federal government would pick up 100 percent of the tab through the first three years — and 90 percent thereafter.