Medicaid Expansion In West Virginia

Medicaid is to be extended in West Virginia. People with incomes up to 50 percent of the federal poverty level will benefit. Currently the eligibility threshold is up to 35 percent of the federal poverty level. Childless adults would be benefited as well. The aim may be to increase the income limit to 100 percent of the poverty level.

Still to be determined are the types of benefits to be provided, the cost of the expansion and the number of adults that would be eligible. CMS would probably not be asked for permission each time. The expansion would be funded by several sources including Medicaid, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program as well as other programs.

Meanwhile a new coalition would aim to address the shortage in nursing and emphasize the fact that nurses should be included in the comprehensive health care overhaul. The 20 member coalition aims to improve nursing education, job satisfaction, as well as increase the population of nurses.

It seems 99,000 qualified nursing applicants were rejected from nursing schools in 2008. The reason was limited resources and instructors.