Corbett Moves Ahead With Medicaid Proposal

By Tony Romeo

HARRISBURG, Pa. (CBS) - The Corbett administration is taking the next step toward winning federal approval of its plan to use Medicaid dollars to expand health insurance coverage. The proposal is to be posted online later this morning  at about 9 a.m. for public comment.

Rather than simply expanding Medicaid under the new federal health care law, Governor Corbett in September rolled out his own plan to reform the program and use Medicaid money to subsidize private health insurance coverage for another 500,000 Pennsylvania residents, a concept the feds have approved for Arkansas.

Now, spokeswoman Christine Cronkright says the governor's proposal will be posted online for a 30-day review period.

"You will see the waiver that will to go the federal government available for public comment in Pennsylvania. And what will happen is over the next 30 days, we will be holding a series of public hearings, as well as two webinars."

After that comment period, the Medicaid waiver proposal – with any changes that may result from public input -- will be formally submitted to Washington for consideration.