Advocates rally in the Capitol for Medicaid expansion
Healthcare advocates and lawmakers today rallied in the Capitol urging Governor Corbett to reverse his decision to not accept federal funds for an expansion of Medicaid in the state. The rally is part of a new campaign called Cover the Commonwealth, which consists of 70 organizations aimed at lobbying the administration to accept the money being offered as part of the Affordable Care Act.
Dr. Valerie Arkoosh, past president of the National Physician’s Alliance, said drawing down the $43 billion in federal funds over yen years would extend coverage to 700,000 Pennsylvanians and create jobs across the commonwealth.
Jamie Coleman, a Registered Nurse at Hershey Medical Center, warned that without the additional federal funds, money diverted to cover uncompensated care will mean less is available to hire staff and upgrade equipment.
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