---
title: An Alternative to Medicaid Expansion - Wyoming Liberty Group - Wyoming Liberty Group
description: WyLib argues Medicaid expansion is a fiscally unsound entitlement that crowds out Wyoming budget priorities and creates unlimited long-term cost obligations.
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\[!\[Wyoming Liberty Group\](https://wyliberty.org/images/2020/06/01/wy-logo-lg-trees.png)!\[Wyoming Liberty Group\](https://wyliberty.org/images/2020/06/01/wy-logo-sm-trees.png)\](https://wyliberty.org/) \[\](#)- \[Home\](https://wyliberty.org/) - \[About\](https://wyliberty.org/javascript:void(0);) - \[Who We Are\](https://wyliberty.org/about/who-we-are) - \[Core Principles\](https://wyliberty.org/about/core-principles) - \[Staff &amp; Board\](https://wyliberty.org/about/staff) - \[Current Posts\](https://wyliberty.org/current-posts) - \[Topics\](https://wyliberty.org/javascript:void(0);) - \[Wyliberty Policy Compass\](https://wyliberty.org/blog/wyliberty-policy-compass) - \[Economic\](https://wyliberty.org/blog/economic) - \[Education\](https://wyliberty.org/blog/education) - \[Election Security Standards\](https://wyliberty.org/blog/election-security-standards) - \[Energy and Resources\](https://wyliberty.org/blog/energy-and-resources) - \[Eye on the Issues\](https://wyliberty.org/blog/eye-on-the-issues) - \[Government Programs\](https://wyliberty.org/blog/government-programs) - \[Health Care\](https://wyliberty.org/blog/health-care) - \[Keep Wyoming Strong\](https://wyliberty.org/blog/keep-wyoming-strong) - \[Legal\](https://wyliberty.org/blog/legal-perspectives) - \[Limited Government\](https://wyliberty.org/blog/limited-government) - \[Marijuana/THC\](https://wyliberty.org/blog/marijuana-thc) - \[Political\](https://wyliberty.org/blog/political-perspectives) - \[Property Rights\](https://wyliberty.org/blog/property-rights) - \[Regulation\](https://wyliberty.org/blog/government-regulation) - \[Spotlight on WyLiberty\](https://wyliberty.org/blog/spotlight-on-wyliberty) - \[Timeless Topics\](https://wyliberty.org/blog/timeless-topics) - \[Transparency\](https://wyliberty.org/blog/government-transparency) - \[Get Involved\](https://wyliberty.org/javascript:void(0);) - \[Donation/Membership\](https://wyliberty.org/get-involved/donate) - \[Newsletter\](https://mailchi.mp/3d5c211df744/newsletter-sign-up) - \[Contact \](https://wyliberty.org/contact) - \[Search\](https://wyliberty.org/search) ## Explore ### Timeless Topics <a></a> Font size: \[ &amp;plus; \](https://wyliberty.org/javascript:void(0);) \[ – \](https://wyliberty.org/javascript:void(0);) \[ Print \](https://wyliberty.org/blog/health-care/an-alternative-to-medicaid-expansion?tmpl=component&amp;print=1&amp;format=print "Print") # An Alternative to Medicaid Expansion \[Health Care\](https://wyliberty.org/blog/health-care) \[Timeless Topics\](https://wyliberty.org/blog/timeless-topics) Monday, 05 January 2015 It was painful to sit in December's Labor Committee meeting and listen to the Department of Health and others advocate for Medicaid expansion. This is such a terrible idea in so many ways that it is hard to know where to begin explaining what is wrong with it. We get help from Gillette's Doctor John Mansell, who is on the front lines treating patients now on Medicaid. I attach the testimony he sent to the Committee so you can get this information first hand. Governor Mead's unhappy challenge to the legislature was to either pass expansion or come up with an alternative. Dr. Mansell's alternative is to try to keep Medicaid afloat by selecting out the patients who really need care and by helping hospitals directly — but NOT by enrolling 17,000 more adults between the ages of 18 and 64 who are above the federal poverty level \\\[up to 138%\\\]. Somebody needs to point out that Medicaid is a dysfunctional program that needs to be eliminated. Its underpayment for care puts providers and hospitals on a starvation diet, and they are starving. But eliminating Medicaid altogether will take a lot of doing. Meanwhile Dr. Mansell's proposals, if enacted, would save all Wyoming residents, including those struggling to make ends meet, a breakdown of our health care system, and ensure that care is available where it is most needed. The first step is to defeat the Labor Committee bill favoring expansion. Beyond that, there is a lot that can be done to breath life back into our health care system in Wyoming. As health care fails in other states, many are moving here to take advantage of Wyoming handouts. Wyoming may be the only state that still has the flexibility to protect itself from government's shaky promises. Please consider what Dr. Mansell has to say and rise to the occasion — contact your legislators and speak to your friends and neighbors. This matters. In Liberty, with Best Wishes for the New Year, \[ \](https://wyliberty.org/javascript:void(0);) \[ \](https://wyliberty.org/javascript:void(0);) \[ \](https://wyliberty.org/javascript:void(0);) Tags: \[Government Programs\](https://wyliberty.org/blog-tags/government-programs) \[Matt Mead\](https://wyliberty.org/blog-tags/matt-mead) \[Health Care\](https://wyliberty.org/blog-tags/health-care) \[Medicaid\](https://wyliberty.org/blog-tags/medicaid) \[Medicaid Expansion\](https://wyliberty.org/blog-tags/medicaid-expansion) \[ Positioning Our Wyoming Health Care System to Succ... \](https://wyliberty.org/blog/health-care/positioning-our-wyoming-health-care-system-to-succeed) \[ Is Medicaid Expansion Worth an Income Tax? \](https://wyliberty.org/blog/health-care/is-medicaid-expansion-worth-an-income-tax) #### Related Posts ### \[WY 2026 SF 6 - Eligibility for Medicaid Criteria\](https://wyliberty.org/blog/health-care/wy-2026-sf-6-eligibility-for-medicaid-criteria) \[Health Care\](https://wyliberty.org/blog/health-care) ### \[The Illusion of Medicaid Expansion - Wyoming lawmakers consider a new health care advisory\](https://wyliberty.org/blog/health-care/the-illusion-of-medicaid-expansion-wyoming-lawmakers-consider-a-new-health-care-advisory) \[Health Care\](https://wyliberty.org/blog/health-care) ### \[Uncovering the Truth About Medicaid Expansion with Dr. John Mansell - Episode 067\](https://wyliberty.org/blog/eye-on-the-issues/uncovering-the-truth-about-medicaid-expansion-with-dr-john-mansell-episode-067) \[Eye on the Issues\](https://wyliberty.org/blog/eye-on-the-issues) ### \[Articles of Interest - Medicaid Expansion Won't Stop Rural Hospital Closures\](https://wyliberty.org/blog/political-perspectives/articles-of-interest-medicaid-expansion-won-t-stop-rural-hospital-closures) \[Political\](https://wyliberty.org/blog/political-perspectives) ### \[Guest Blog - Getting Prices Back into Healthcare &amp; Why They Are Missing Now\](https://wyliberty.org/blog/health-care/guest-blog-getting-prices-back-into-healthcare-why-they-are-missing-now) \[Health Care\](https://wyliberty.org/blog/health-care) ### \[MedEx Deja Vu - Eye on the Issues - Episode 002\](https://wyliberty.org/blog/political-perspectives/eye-on-the-issues-episode-002) \[Political\](https://wyliberty.org/blog/political-perspectives) !\[logo white 002\](https://wyliberty.org/images/general\_art/logo\_white\_002.png) \*\*Wyoming Liberty Group\*\* P.O. Box 9 • Burns, WY 82053 Phone: (307) 632-7020 ##### Quick Links - \[ Legal\](https://wyliberty.org/legal-center) - \[ News Releases\](https://wyliberty.org/news-releases) - \[ Podcasts\](https://wyliberty.org/podcasts) - \[ Policy\](https://wyliberty.org/policy) - \[ Videos\](https://wyliberty.org/videos) ##### Support - \[ Blog Tags\](https://wyliberty.org/blog-tags) - \[ Contact Us\](https://white-clair-78.tiiny.site/) - \[ Newsletter\](https://mailchi.mp/3d5c211df744/newsletter-sign-up) - \[ Privacy Policy\](https://wyliberty.org/privacy-policy) - \[ Login/out\](https://wyliberty.org/login-out) Search Copyright © 2026 Wyoming Liberty Group. \[\](#)- \[ Home\](https://wyliberty.org/) - <a>About</a> - \[ Who We Are\](https://wyliberty.org/about/who-we-are) - \[ Core Principles\](https://wyliberty.org/about/core-principles) - \[ Staff &amp; Board\](https://wyliberty.org/about/staff) - \[ Current Posts\](https://wyliberty.org/current-posts) - <a>Topics</a> - \[ Wyliberty Policy Compass\](https://wyliberty.org/blog/wyliberty-policy-compass) - \[ Economic\](https://wyliberty.org/blog/economic) - \[ Education\](https://wyliberty.org/blog/education) - \[ Election Security Standards\](https://wyliberty.org/blog/election-security-standards) - \[ Energy and Resources\](https://wyliberty.org/blog/energy-and-resources) - \[ Eye on the Issues\](https://wyliberty.org/blog/eye-on-the-issues) - \[ Government Programs\](https://wyliberty.org/blog/government-programs) - \[ Health Care\](https://wyliberty.org/blog/health-care) - \[ Keep Wyoming Strong\](https://wyliberty.org/blog/keep-wyoming-strong) - \[ Legal\](https://wyliberty.org/blog/legal-perspectives) - \[ Limited Government\](https://wyliberty.org/blog/limited-government) - \[ Marijuana/THC\](https://wyliberty.org/blog/marijuana-thc) - \[ Political\](https://wyliberty.org/blog/political-perspectives) - \[ Property Rights\](https://wyliberty.org/blog/property-rights) - \[ Regulation\](https://wyliberty.org/blog/government-regulation) - \[ Spotlight on WyLiberty\](https://wyliberty.org/blog/spotlight-on-wyliberty) - \[ Timeless Topics\](https://wyliberty.org/blog/timeless-topics) - \[ Transparency\](https://wyliberty.org/blog/government-transparency) - <a>Get Involved</a> - \[ Donation/Membership\](https://wyliberty.org/get-involved/donate) - \[ Newsletter\](https://mailchi.mp/3d5c211df744/newsletter-sign-up) - \[ Contact \](https://wyliberty.org/contact) - \[ Search\](https://wyliberty.org/search) \[\](https://wyliberty.org/javascript:void(0))