Gov. Corbett questions whether politics will play role in Medicaid decision

(Harrisburg) — As the months go by, Pennsylvania is waiting to hear on its application for a waiver for a hybrid Medicaid program, and now,Governor Corbett is questioning whether politics may interfere.

The Corbett Administration’s Healthy Pennsylvania plan would use Medicaid money to subsidize private health insurance for hundreds of thousands in the state, instead of expanding Medicaid. Governor Corbett’s budget relies on $125 million dollars in estimated savings from the proposal.

It asked for approval February 19th, and has been in negotiations with the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services since.

“Would there decision making process get influenced by the gubernatorial campaign? I certainly hope not. Because the decisions we have been making, are what we believe to be in the best interests of Pennsylvania,” said Corbett onRadio Pennsylvania’s “Ask the Governor”.

“I worry that we have an administration in Washington that is opposite of the administration here, there’s a political campaign going on now.”

The federal government has approved waivers for both Iowa and Arkansas.

Iowa’s Governor Terry Branstad is a Republican, and both the state House and Senate in Arkansas is controlled by the GOP.

The application asks the federal government to sign off on some provisions it has never approved, which can be changed in negotiations.