GOP lawmakers take aim at Louisiana Medicaid spending growth
Republicans on the state House budget-writing committee Wednesday questioned the spending growth in Louisiana's Health Department, taking aim at plans to pump another $2 billion in federal money into Medicaid.
Gov. John Bel Edwards proposes spending $14.2 billion on the Health Department in the financial year that begins July 1, nearly half the money allocated in the state operating budget. More than $10 billion of the health spending is federal money.
"This is growing uncontrollably," said Rep. John Schroder, a Republican from Covington.
Health Secretary Rebekah Gee pushed back against the criticism, saying the budget has grown because Louisiana is offering Medicaid coverage to more people, particularly through the Medicaid expansion. The expansion largely has been financed with federal money, and she said it's helping people get better health care.
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