Increased federal funding for partial Medicaid expansion on hold as federal case ruling looms

With a decision looming in the Fifth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals on the constitutionality of the Affordable Care Act (ACA), the Trump administration announced it will not increase funding for any state seeking partial Medicaid expansion.

The lawsuit against the ACA, led by 18 attorneys general, requests the court to throw out the entire health care act on the grounds that it is unconstitutional.

Earlier this year, attempts were made by some states to partially expand Medicaid. Utah requested the federal government pay 90 percent of the partial expansion costs, keeping the state’s share at 10 percent. But the Trump administration declined and Utah will instead be responsible for 30 percent of costs.

(Read more: Atchison Globe Now)