Expansion Week for Haslam

Gov. Bill Haslam tells reporters he will make his decision on Medicaid expansion this week. Photo courtesy TN Photo Services

Governor Bill Haslam continues to stall his decision on enlarging Tennessee’s Medicaid program – known as TennCare. Though, he says he will reveal his position one way or the other this week.

The deadline is self-imposed. The Supreme Court struck down part of the Affordable Care Act that required states to expand their Medicaid rolls. But the governor says he wants to make up his mind and move on.

“We’ve been working toward the understanding that if we can come to a decision to what’s best for Tennessee, to decide that now would be better than waiting,” Haslam told reporters Monday.

The federal government would pay the entire cost of insuring more than 100,000 people who currently make too much money to qualify. After three years, the state would be responsible for no more than 10 percent.

State lawmakers are already making a move. One bill to be debated this week would block the state from expanding TennCare.