Projo 7 to 7 News Blog

PROVIDENCE -- The House of Representatives today voted 71 to 2 to approve legislation requiring General Assembly approval for every substantial change proposed to Rhode Island's Medicaid system under the new Global Medicaid Waiver agreement between the state and the federal government.

The legislation is meant to ensure legislative oversight as the state moves forward with executing changes to Medicaid allowed under a waiver granted by the federal government late last year, according to a State House press release.

The bill will now be forwarded to the Senate.

The controversial waiver was proposed by Republican Governor Carcieri as a way of coping with the state's budget deficit. The Democrat-ruled General Assembly did not block the waiver when it had the chance and was expected to approve oversight legislation.

Lawmakers had been worried that the governor sought unprecedented authority to re-shape Medicaid programs that touch 180,000 Rhode Islanders, but had yet to detail most of the specifics.

-- With Journal archival reports

 Tags  Carcieri legislation

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