Policy

Feds Tell States To Expand Medicaid or Lose Money

But also says they can back out at any time, which suggests some face-saving is at hand

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The Obama administration is putting pressure on states to expand Medicaid, telling them they may lose federal money if they delay.

But at the same time, federal health officials have also told states that if they choose to expand Medicaid, they are free to reverse the decision at any time.

The officials have set forth their position in letters to state officials — the first definitive guidance since the Supreme Court ruled in June that the expansion of Medicaid was an option, not a requirement, for states.