The candidates reaffirmed their support for the Medicaid expansion during the first gubernatorial debate, but they differ on how effective the rollout has been, and how it’s managed. Governor Edwards says the expansion cut the number of uninsured in half.
“The easiest big decision I will ever make as governor was to expand Medicaid, we have 450,000 working Louisianians with health insurance that never had it before,” said Edwards.
But Republican Congressman Ralph Abraham says Edwards’ mismanagement of Medicaid has weakened the program, depriving the neediest of crucial services.
“This Medicaid expansion rollout has been a nightmare, you’ve got over 1,600 people making over $100,000 a year on the rolls, there is waste, fraud, and abuse,” said Abraham.
The other main Republican challenger, Eddie Rispone, says he’ll shrink the Medicaid rolls by providing jobs with private insurance.
“My goal as a businessman, is to get jobs here, so people can afford good wages and benefits, so we don’t need to be on government assistance,” said Rispone.
The next televised debate is Thursday, September 26 at 7 PM.
