AZ seeking help for Medicaid program

Arizona is seeking federal approval to continue its Medicaid program for childless adults, which lawmakers capped last year to help balance the budget. Without a federal extension, the program will expire next year. At the same time, state Medicaid officials hope to convince the federal government that Arizona deserves additional funding to insure that group of low-income adults. The goal is to prevent thousands of Arizonans from getting kicked out of the Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System, the state's Medicaid program, and to give Arizona policy makers additional incentive to expand government-paid insurance under federal healthcare reform.