Governor Cautiously Optimistic About Medicaid Expansion Waivers

Governor Gary Herbert says he's cautiously optimistic that the Trump administration will approve waivers needed to expand Medicaid coverage in Utah.

Herbert was attending the Politico State Solutions Conference Friday when he was asked who in the federal government had encouraged the state to apply for waivers.

The governor said that he's talked about it with Vice President Mike Pence while others in the state government have been working with the department of health.

Utah lawmakers voted in favor of a replacement bill earlier this month that limits the number of Utahns covered under a voter-approved Medicaid expansion initiative, and requires a federal waiver that has never been approved for any other state.