Ballot measure to expand Medicaid moves forward
Utah Decides Healthcare signatures submitted to counties
By RyLee Curtis
Utah Decides Healthcare organizers submitted final signatures April 16 for a November ballot initiative to expand Medicaid and bring healthcare to more than 150,000 Utahns.
The Utah Decides Healthcare initiative would bring Medicaid coverage to individuals earning less than $16,146 a year, or $33,383 for a family of four, many of whom are working parents or people whose jobs don’t provide healthcare. Many would get coverage for the first time and have not been able to see a doctor in years. The measure would help many rural Utahns who rely on hospitals and clinics, which face particularly high costs treating large numbers of uninsured patients. This measure is important because for the first time it gives Utah voters the chance to decide what they want in healthcare in the state.
“I like that this is about Utah and making our own decisions locally,” said BYU student Stephanie Burdick. “This will help people like me and others who are working hard, wanting to do our part, but need access to medical care.”
Utah Decides Healthcare has turned in more than 165,000 signatures collected across the state to qualify the initiative for the ballot in November. The state requires 113,143 valid signatures and will officially announce the status of the measure in May after completing its standard review.
This initiative would bring back more than $800 million in federal money to Utah that would pay for at least 90 percent of the expansion. These funds have resulted in more jobs and greater economic activity in other states that expanded Medicaid. An increase in state sales tax, on non-food items, of less than two tenths of one cent — roughly one penny on the purchase of an average movie ticket — would fund the remainder.
Articles related to “Ballot measure to expand Medicaid moves forward”
Petition to reinstate terminated Dixie State University professors circulating online
Dixie State University is firing people, again — a suggestion on how to respond
Dear Dixie State University and Legend Solar: Show me the money
