The Pennsylvania House rejected an effort by Representative Gene DiGirolamo (R-Bucks) today to revive the Medicaid expansion before the Legislature breaks for its summer recess this week.
The Senate cast a bipartisan 40-10 vote Sunday for a must-pass Welfare Code bill (HB 1075) that included the Medicaid expansion. The bill went to the House, where on Monday the House Rules Committee removed the expansion language, along with a plan to change the name of the Department of Public Welfare to the Department of Human Services.
Representative DiGirolamo tried to restore Medicaid expansion to the bill on the House floor, but the effort fell short.
It is important to remember that this is not a defeat. Just like the fight to pass health care reform — which had many victories and setbacks along the way — it’s a process. There are many lawmakers and advocates working hard to ensure Pennsylvania takes this unparalleled federal opportunity to extend health coverage to between 600,000 and 800,000 hardworking low-income Pennsylvanians.
In the meantime, take a minute to sign a thank you card to the 40 Senators who voted to advance Medicaid expansion Sunday.