Wyoming Senate pass bill to limit reach of public health orders with eye on future pandemics oilcity.news - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from oilcity.news Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
With New Federal Incentives, Medicaid Expansion Bill Moves In Wyoming
Wyoming Tribune-Eagle (Cheyenne, WY)
Mar. 8 CHEYENNE With new federal incentives being offered to the 12 states that have declined Medicaid expansion over the last decade, a bill to expand coverage in Wyoming to the state s low-income residents was advanced by a legislative committee Monday morning.
Expanding Medicaid to uninsured people whose income is at or below 138% of the federal poverty level has been a frequent topic of debate in the Wyoming Legislature in recent years. If authorized by state legislators, Medicaid expansion would cover approximately 24,000 residents in its first two years of implementation, according to estimates from the Wyoming Department of Health released last month.
WyoFile: Week 51 of the pandemic in Wyoming (Feb 27-March 5)
Wyomings Governor Mark Gordon address the 66th Wyoming Legislature via video message on Jan. 12, 2021 (YouTube, Wyoming PBS)
Lawmakers returned to the Capitol in Cheyenne this week to resume in-person session work following a year of mostly virtual meetings held to limit the spread of COVID-19.
COVID-19 vaccinations ramped up across the state, meanwhile, as the state’s hospitalizations hovered in the 20s and active cases dropped below 600.
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The virus hung heavy over the session. Its impact was evident in the new plexiglass shields and quieter hallways, and it threaded its way through the proceedings as a significant foe threatening most aspects of Wyoming’s current and future health.
Taxes to Voters Bill Fails to Pass in Revenue Committee sweetwaternow.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from sweetwaternow.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
Credit Pixabay, Public Domain
The Wyoming Senate s Health and Labor committee voted 3-2 to limit the power of the governor and public health officials regarding a public health order.
The bill requires legislative approval for a statewide health order to be expanded beyond 30 days. Local government officials would have to approve a local health order that goes beyond 15 days.
Gillette Sen. Troy McKeown said the bill would also delay a health order for 48 hours in order for the public to comment. Park County Commissioner Lee Livingston said he was uncomfortable overruling a public health official. I can guide you to a big elk, but I m probably not the one you d want to come to for health decisions, he said.