A state Senate panel is expected to start discussing a bill next week to expand Medicaid in Michigan.
Senate Majority Leader Randy Richardville (R-Monroe) expects a vote in the full Senate before September.
The Majority Leader has been taking some heat from Governor Rick Snyder since last week.
That’s when Richardville allowed the Senate to leave on its summer recess before taking a vote on Medicaid expansion. But Richardville defended the decision today on the Michigan Public Television program Off the Record.
“I don’t think this legislation is complete. I don’t think we had the votes to get things done that day, and it would have been forcing a less-than-adequate package to his desk,” said Richardville.
The governor says the state stands to lose millions of federal dollars if the legislation isn’t approved soon.
That’s because the plan needs to be approved by Washington – a process that will likely take months. But Richardville said he doesn’t want to rush the legislation if it’s not ready.
"I understand that he has to talk to the federal government, and these waivers are going to be difficult to negotiate," said Richardville. "But I think we’ll have a product for him to look at before July is over."
Richardville says he generally supports the idea of overhauling and expanding Medicaid.
“But we have some other reforms, some other things that we think should be done to make this legislation better. And we need a little time to look at it,” he said.
Meanwhile, a legislative workgroup is also trying to get the bill ready for a vote. The workgroup originally consisted of six Republican senators.
But Richardville now says he plans to add some Democrats to the group as well.
Richardville says he expects to have a proposal in place before August, and a vote of the full Senate before September.
