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Legislature Agrees To Spend $2.5 Million On Hospitals

Medical staff congregates in the Cheyenne Regional Medical Center Emergency Room.
Bob Beck
/
Wyoming Public Radio
Medical staff congregates in the Cheyenne Regional Medical Center Emergency Room.

The Wyoming Legislature has approved a bill that is intended to help hospitals in the state cover costs for patients who cannot afford to pay for health care. 

After lawmakers rejected the $100 million a year in federal funds that would have come from Medicaid Expansion, this was viewed as a last ditch attempt to help hospitals. But opponents say the bill just throws money at the problem.

Senate Labor and Health Committee Chairman Charles Scott says the two and a half million dollars in the bill will help some of the small hospitals in the state.

“This is just a stop gap, the problem may be that’s it’s not gonna be enough, I hope it will be enough to carry us through another year. We’re developing serious problems with a number of our hospitals.”

Scott says his committee will spend the next several months trying to find a more permanent solution. The bill goes to the governor for his consideration. 

Bob Beck retired from Wyoming Public Media after serving as News Director of Wyoming Public Radio for 34 years. During his time as News Director WPR has won over 100 national, regional and state news awards.
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