It looks like Nebraska lawmakers will be discussing a the expansion of Medicaid yet this session. The program would be funded by a combination of federal Medicaid money and funds reached through a settlement with tobacco companies to provide health insurance for 97,000 more residents for three years. Nebraska Governor Pete Ricketts says this is a risk the state doesn’t need…

Ricketts says this would cost the state nearly $1-billion over ten years and Medicaid now takes up almost 20% of the state’s budget, up from 12% in 2000. ..

Ricketts was asked if the state has a role at all in providing health care for those who can’t afford it. He says absolutely and the state does have some responsibility and they do support federally qualified community health care clinics.