Wednesday, February 17, 2021 www.greenriverstar.com A9 B4 S tate www.greenriverstar.com Wednesday, March 10, 2021 Medicaid bill approved by committee By Tom Coulter Medicaid expansion program if the federal match fell for more accessible health care. Lisa Ridgway, a Tribune Eagle below 90%, or if the match for the broader Medicaid pediatrician based in Jackson, urged the committee Via Wyoming News Exchange program fell below 55%. Rothfuss told his colleagues to pass the bill, recounting stories of uninsured the state could aim to leverage Congress into keeping residents who pushed off seeking care until their CHEYENNE — With new federal incentives being the 55% match beyond its two-year lifespan under the health problems had risen to grave levels. offered to the 12 states that have declined Medicaid stimulus bill. “I know a family in Jackson who’s had to move to expansion over the last decade, a bill to expand Rothfuss said he was open to other solutions to a small apartment, then rent out their house to pay coverage in Wyoming to the state’s low-income address health care costs in Wyoming, but added that the (hospital) bills,” Ridgway said. “I’ve seen patients residents was advanced by a legislative committee he has been “met with silence” from his colleagues on in the parking lot at the grocery store here when Monday morning. other proposals. the moms say they can’t afford the emergency room Expanding Medicaid to uninsured people whose “We’re taking a principled stand with the lives of (asking), ‘Would I please look at a swollen ankle, a income is at or below 138% of the federal poverty 25,000 Wyomingites that don’t have the luxury of rash or a fever?’ … because if you wait, things tend to level has been a frequent topic of debate in the sitting here today having this chat – folks that are our get worse.” in recent years. If authorized working poor, the single moms we heard about with Ridgway was among a handful of residents by state legislators, Medicaid expansion would cover two kids that probably have to have two or three jobs, who spoke in favor of Medicaid expansion during approximately 24,000 residents in its first two years the mentally ill,” said Rothfuss, who is the Senate the meeting, while no one testified in opposition. of implementation, according to estimates from the Minority Floor Leader. “Those are the lives we’re Although more recent public opinion polls are Wyoming Department of Health released last month. playing with, and we’ve offered them nothing for the lacking, a 2014 survey from the University of Under Medicaid expansion, the federal government last decade.” Wyoming found that 56% of state residents were covers 90% of the costs, while states pick up 10% of Estimates show 76% of those who would be supportive of expanding Medicaid in the Equality the tab. In Wyoming, that amount totals roughly $20 covered under Medicaid expansion in Wyoming are State. million in the initial biennium of implementation. In single mothers with two children, Wyoming Hospital While there was notable support for Rothfuss’s past years, state lawmakers have frequently cited the Association President Eric Boley told the committee. bill during the meeting, a few lawmakers on the cost that Wyoming must bear, as well as mistrust in “We talk a lot about the working poor, and there committee had hesitations over the proposal. Sen. the federal government keeping up its end of the deal, are a lot of folks out there that are working for low Troy McKeown, R-Gillette, worried about potential as reason to vote against expansion. wages that don’t qualify (for health insurance), strings attached to expansion. But the landscape has shifted at the federal level, as because they don’t make enough money to qualify and “Having served in the Army and living overseas, bill sponsor Sen. , D-Laramie, told his be able to get any help with the exchange, nor could I’m going to tell you, you don’t want socialized colleagues Monday morning. Under the latest federal they afford the premiums, and they would fall in this medicine,” McKeown said. “I saw it, and it’s bad, stimulus bill in Congress that may be signed into law category where they could have coverage,” Boley told in my mind … I don’t know how we get the federal later this week, the 12 states that have not expanded the committee. government out of the health care business, but that Medicaid would gain a 5% boost to their traditional The costs of having fewer people with health would be my answer, and I don’t know if we can.” Medicaid matching program, which is done at a 50- insurance often show up in other areas of hospitals’ Sen. , R-Cheyenne, argued 50 split and includes a far wider population than the budgets. Josh Hannes, vice president of the Wyoming additional government involvement in Wyoming’s expansion-eligible one. Hospital Association, said the level of uncompensated health care system would only make the situation A 5% increase in federal funds for the state’s care for the state’s hospitals typically costs roughly worse. general Medicaid population would generate roughly $100 million each year. “I haven’t heard anything that didn’t say we’re just $120 million for the state per biennium, meaning “Every dollar that’s spent … covering going to move further into the universal health care Wyoming would actually gain revenue by expanding uncompensated care is money we’re not investing block, and that is a big red flag for me,” Bouchard Medicaid, Rothfuss said. in equipment, it’s dollars we’re not investing in said. “It’s a net revenue increase to the general fund of new physicians and providers, it’s money we’re not Ultimately, Bouchard and his fellow Laramie $80 million for us to expand Medicaid for those two investing in updating and maintaining our physical County lawmaker, Sen. , R-Cheyenne, years that we wouldn’t otherwise and won’t otherwise plants, some of which are aging considerably,” were the only two committee members to oppose the have, while simultaneously providing and covering Hannes said, adding that no state that has expanded measure. Despite his criticisms, McKeown joined the health care costs for additional an 24,000 Medicaid has decided later to turn it away. committee chair Sen. , R-Kemmerer, and Wyomingites,” Rothfuss told members of the Senate The proposal, which was also backed by the Sen. , R-Laramie, in advancing the bill. Labor, Health and Social Services Committee. Wyoming Medical Society and the Wyoming Business With the committee’s approval by a 3-2 vote, His bill, Senate File 154, includes a provision Coalition on Health, drew testimony from state the legislation will now head to the Senate floor for that would allow Wyoming to withdraw from the residents who could speak first-hand to the need further consideration. Public notice bill dies on third Senate reading By Stephen Dow , R-Cheyenne, who argued I hope we focus on that and not about the would have had their websites up-to-date The Sheridan Press the move online was essential as many lo- financial health of our newspapers.” with the minutes on there and showed us Via Wyoming News Exchange cal governments face budget cuts. Neth- Sen. R.J. Kost, R-Powell, said that, what they could do,” Biteman said. “But if ercott said local counties spend anywhere while the state should continue to discuss you go and look across the state right now SHERIDAN — On third reading Friday, from $11,000 to $101,000 each year the possibility of moving public notices at these county and city and local govern- the Wyoming House defeated a bill some complying with publication requirements, online, now was not the time to make the ment websites, the information is sparse legislators said would limit government with Sheridan County spending $28,000. move. at best, outdated and sometimes nonex- transparency by moving public notices out While some legislators focused on how “I really feel like… maybe we start talk- istent… So I think they really could have of newspapers. the state’s newspapers would be impacted ing about it,” Kost said. “But right now, shown us what they could do, and I don’t “I’m not quite there with the notion if notices moved online, Sen. Drew Per- it’s imperative that we…respect those think they’re quite ready for that yet.” that we pull the funding that makes sure kins, R-Casper, said the bill was, first and older people…Let’s honor them by al- During a previous discussion on the that we get information out to our public,” foremost, about getting important public lowing them to sit down with that cup of bill, Kinskey said publication spending Sen. , R-Casper, said. information to Wyoming’s citizens. coffee and read those minutes or whatever made up roughly 0.12% of the average Senate File 17, sponsored by the Senate “It was disturbing to me that this bill else they need to read.” annual budget for counties and 0.17% for Corporations, Elections and Political Sub- has become an argument about support- Local Sens. , R-Parkman, cities and towns. For that relatively small divisions Committee, would have allowed ing our newspapers and local communi- and , R-Sheridan, were investment, the newspapers reach a paid cities, towns, counties and school districts ties,” Perkins said. “To me, that’s not the among those who voted against the bill. circulation of more than 98,000, Kinskey to move their public notices — including right argument and not the right consid- Biteman said many local websites simply said. meeting minutes, salaries and ordinances eration…. I hope that as we consider this, weren’t ready to distribute important pub- Senate File 17 was killed with a vote of — from the pages of the local newspaper your vote is not about whether or not this lic notice information. 9-20. The bill was previously approved to those entities’ websites. money goes to support newspapers…This “I think it would have helped the case by the Senate on first reading Wednesday The bill was brought to the floor by Sen. is really an issue about giving notice, and and the cause of the argument…if they with a vote of 15 to 12.

State briefs

Wyoming unemployment eas of the state dominated by the ened the victim to not report and driving under the influence The same shift in Yellowstone rate falls slightly energy sector. Converse County’s anything about the incidents. of alcohol after being involved in applies to the Mammoth and unemployment rate rose from Cooper viewed text messages a fatal collision in Hoback Can- Slough Creek campgrounds and CHEYENNE (Wyoming News 3.5% to 6.7%, Natrona County’s from Marquez apologizing for his yon on Jan. 1. a portion of the Pebble Creek Exchange) — The Research & rate rose from 5.2% to 8.2%, actions after the fact. The two vehicular homicide campground. Yellowstone con- Planning section of the Wyoming Campbell County’s rate rose from Marquez was arrested in July felonies are based on varying cessionaire Xanterra already op- Department of Workforce Ser- 4.4% to 7.0%, and Sweetwater and served 56 days in Park Coun- degrees of alleged alcohol intoxi- erated five of the park’s 12 camp- vices reported Monday that the County’s rate rose from 6.2% ty Detention Center initially. cation. Jewkes was driving north grounds as reservation-only, and state’s seasonally adjusted unem- to 7.7%. In contrast to those Judge Bill Simpson sentenced on Highway 191 on the afternoon that leaves just five campgrounds ployment rate fell from 5.2% in increases, Big Horn County’s un- Marquez in Park County District of New Year’s Day and others with first-come, first-served sites December to 5.1% in January. employment rate was unchanged Court Jan. 6. on the road reported her erratic — but two, Norris and Tower Wyoming has recently com- from a year earlier at 6.2%. He was also assessed one year driving across the two-lane high- Falls campgrounds, will be closed pleted a comprehensive annual of unsupervised probation and way, according to court records. in 2021. revision of its unemployment Man sentenced to jail for $400 in court fees. Driving a 2015 Jeep Cherokee, Impromptu roadtrippers who data. punching teen Marquez has an extensive she collided nearly head-on with roll into Northwest Wyoming’s The revised data show that criminal history including bat- Deal, who was driving a 2005 two flagship national parks in the state’s unemployment rate CODY (WNE) — A man was tery, unlawful contact and viola- plow truck in the southbound summer 2021 are down to three peaked at 8.5% in May 2020 sentenced to 14 days in jail after tion of a protection order. lane. The Jeep’s airbags and spots where unplanned camping and has steadily decreased since pleading guilty to child endan- seatbelt protected Jewkes from will be in the cards: Lewis Lake then. Wyoming’s January unem- germent. Trial in New Year’s fatal serious injury – she suffered Campground, the Indian Creek ployment rate of 5.1% was much Per his plea agreement, his accident moved to district minor cuts to her hand. Campground and a portion of lower than the U.S. rate of 6.3%. original felony charge for child court The truck did not have air- Pebble Creek. Collectively, they Most county unemployment abuse was reduced to the misde- bags and Deal, although wearing offer 166 campsites that will be rates followed their normal meanor charge. PINEDALE (WNE) — After a seatbelt, was very seriously available without a reservation. seasonal pattern and increased Juan Marquez, 38, was ar- changing her hearing dates in injured and later died. With 30,000-plus visitors pass- from December to January. rested in August after the vic- Circuit Court, Jade S. Jewkes, of ing through Yellowstone during Unemployment rates often rise tim’s grandmother reported Jackson, waived her right to a Yellowstone adopts reserva- each peak summer day, there in January as seasonal job losses Marquez had punched a 13-year- preliminary hearing and will face tion system for some promises to be hearty competi- are seen in many sectors, includ- old minor 10-20 times in the two aggravated homicide felony campgrounds tion. ing construction, retail trade, arm and smashed the victim’s charges in 9th District Court. According to Yellowstone’s transportation & warehousing, face into the outside of a vehicle. She was charged by Sublette JACKSON (WNE) — Yel- public affairs office, the changes leisure and hospitality, and gov- The grandmother said this was County Attorney Mike Crosson lowstone National Park has were made at the request of visi- ernment. in response to the victim telling after the New Year’s Day death of announced that it is following in tors. The largest jobless rate in- Marquez they did not know how Shane Deal, of Pinedale, in a fatal its southern neighbor’s footsteps “The ability to make reserva- creases were seen in Sublette (up to drive the vehicle when he re- collision in Hoback Canyon. and converting some camp- tions will enable visitors to plan from 6.7% to 8.3%), Big Horn quested they take him to Powell. Her March 1 preliminary hear- grounds to reservation-only for their trips ahead of time and (up from 4.7% to 6.2%), Niobrara The victim had bruising con- ing was rescheduled for March the coming summer. provide assurance that they will (up from 3.9% to 5.2%), and Hot sistent with these allegations. 25 at her attorney John LaBuda’s Earlier this year, Grand Teton have a campsite upon arrival,” Springs (up from 4.4% to 5.6%) “The bruising was very obvi- request. Now with her case National Park announced it was park officials wrote. “It will counties. ous,” said Allen Cooper, a deputy bound over to 9th District Court doing away with all first-come, enrich the visitor experience by From January 2020 to Janu- with the Park County Sheriff’s on March 3, Judge Marv Tyler first-served camping, and had reducing traffic congestion at ary 2021, unemployment rates Office. will set an arraignment there. converted its 800-plus sites campgrounds, improving safety, rose in nearly every county. The When dropping the victim off Jewkes is charged with two spread throughout seven camp- and eliminate uncertainty and largest increases were seen in ar- at their grandmothers, he threat- counts of aggravated homicide grounds to reservation-only. frustration.”