Several members of a House-Senate oversight committee questioned West Virginia's decision to expand Medicaid under the federal health care overhaul on Monday, after fielding details from the financial analysis that helped prompt Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin to choose that course in May.
West Virginia insurance officials told lawmakers Tuesday that partnering with the federal government is the state's best option for a new health coverage marketplace, but also cautioned that success is far from certain.
Much of the cuts are based on the poor performance of the state's $13 billion pension investments, which earned a 2.5 percent return during the budget year.
West Virginia is already reaping benefits from recent efforts to rein in public retiree health benefit costs, officials say. A Wall Street credit rating agency appears ready to praise the state's handling of its last major liability.
The 214,000 West Virginians covered by the Public Employees Insurance Agency can expect some new or higher health care copayments while retired enrollees will see a limit to the subsidy that helps them pay premiums, which will rise 9 percent, under provisions approved Tuesday by the agency's finance board.
The U.S. economy will continue to struggle to recover in 2012, buoyed by increased business investment but still overshadowed by a very weak labor market, a Federal Reserve economist told the annual West Virginia Economic Outlook Conference on Tuesday.
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"articles": [
{
"uri": "/2013/07/23/some-west-virginia-lawmakers-wary-of-expanding-med/",
"title": "Some West Virginia lawmakers wary of expanding Medicaid",
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"summary": "Several members of a House-Senate oversight committee questioned West Virginia's decision to expand Medicaid under the federal health care overhaul on Monday, after fielding details from the financial analysis that helped prompt Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin to choose that course in May.",
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{
"uri": "/2013/05/02/west-virginia-to-expand-medicaid/",
"title": "West Virginia to expand Medicaid",
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"prettyDate": "May 02, 2013",
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"summary": "CHARLESTON, W.Va. — West Virginia will expand Medicaid as called for by the federal health care overhaul.Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin said Thursday the…",
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},
{
"uri": "/2012/12/12/west-virginia-lawmakers-eye-risks-of-health-exchan/",
"title": "West Virginia lawmakers eye risks of health exchange",
"byline": "Lawrence Messina",
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"prettyDate": "December 12, 2012",
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"summary": "West Virginia insurance officials told lawmakers Tuesday that partnering with the federal government is the state's best option for a new health coverage marketplace, but also cautioned that success is far from certain.",
"body": null
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{
"uri": "/2012/08/07/west-virginia-agencies-bracing-for-7-5-percent-bud/",
"title": "West Virginia agencies bracing for 7.5 percent budget cuts",
"byline": " Lawrence Messina ",
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"prettyDate": "August 07, 2012",
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"summary": "Much of the cuts are based on the poor performance of the state's $13 billion pension investments, which earned a 2.5 percent return during the budget year.",
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{
"uri": "/2012/03/22/west-virginia-governor-vetoes-millions-from-new-st/",
"title": "West Virginia governor vetoes millions from new state budget",
"byline": "Lawrence Messina",
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"prettyDate": "March 22, 2012",
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"summary": "The bulk of the cuts reflect a revised estimate of how much the state must put toward the main pension fund for teachers.",
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{
"uri": "/2012/02/27/west-virginia-reins-in-public-retiree-health-benef/",
"title": "West Virginia reins in public retiree health benefit costs",
"byline": "Lawrence Messina",
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"prettyDate": "February 27, 2012",
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"summary": "West Virginia is already reaping benefits from recent efforts to rein in public retiree health benefit costs, officials say. A Wall Street credit rating agency appears ready to praise the state's handling of its last major liability.",
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{
"uri": "/2011/12/14/w-va-public-insurer-oks-5b-retiree-cost-cut/",
"title": "W.Va. public insurer OKs $5B retiree cost cut",
"byline": " Lawrence Messina ",
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"prettyDate": "December 14, 2011",
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"summary": "The 214,000 West Virginians covered by the Public Employees Insurance Agency can expect some new or higher health care copayments while retired enrollees will see a limit to the subsidy that helps them pay premiums, which will rise 9 percent, under provisions approved Tuesday by the agency's finance board.",
"body": null
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{
"uri": "/2011/11/08/economist-sees-restrained-us-recovery-in-2012/",
"title": "Economist sees restrained US recovery in 2012",
"byline": "Lawrence Messina",
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"prettyDate": "November 08, 2011",
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"summary": "The U.S. economy will continue to struggle to recover in 2012, buoyed by increased business investment but still overshadowed by a very weak labor market, a Federal Reserve economist told the annual West Virginia Economic Outlook Conference on Tuesday.",
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