Wyoming's Non-Expansion Status Shields It From Federal Medicaid Cuts
In a WyoFile opinion piece, columnist Kerry Drake argues that Wyoming's decades-long refusal to expand Medicaid, long criticized by advocates, is insulating the state from federal Medicaid cuts hitting expansion states under the 2025 federal tax and spending law. Drake cites Wyoming Hospital Association president Eric Boley and a Seattle Times report on Washington state, noting expansion states face declining federal match rates, new work requirements starting January 1, and billions in hospital losses from uncompensated care. Wyoming, along with Alabama, Florida, Kansas, Mississippi and Texas, avoids the new work-requirement compliance costs and the matching-rate ratchet-down because it never expanded. Drake further notes Wyoming and South Dakota may see funding increases from a rural health funding program due to their small populations, while questioning whether this outcome vindicates expansion opponents like Sen. Charlie Scott.