Expanding Medicaid | Video

Van Tieu | 2/27/2013

The House approved a bill today to expand Medicaid to cover more North Dakotans. The Federal Government would cover the full cost of expansion until 2016. The state`s contributions will rise in stages to 10 percent. It`s part of the Affordable Care Act.

If the bill is made into law, more than 20,000 uninsured people will be added to the program. Several Republican lawmakers say although they disapprove of what they call Obamacare, it`s in the best interest of the state to accept the medicaid offer.

Opponents say they`re skeptical that the Federal Government will follow through and called for a study.

"We haven`t paid for it quote, unquote. What we have to do is determine what our costs in the future. Because the costs in the future are what are paying for it," Representative Rick Becker of Bismarck said.

The Governor supports the bill, but it goes to the Senate first.

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