Nevada Expects To Spend More On Medicaid Than Planned

(AP) - More Nevadans than expected have enrolled in Medicaid after Gov. Brian Sandoval opted to expand eligibility, meaning the state will pay more than originally projected once the federal government starts scaling back its support.

State officials say more than 181,000 people are now receiving benefits as a result of Sandoval's decision, which extends Medicaid eligibility to all non-disabled adults with incomes at or below 138 percent of the federal poverty level.

That's well over the 144,000 new enrollees that state officials expected to have this year when they made the decision in 2012.

Most of the cost is covered by the federal government, but the overrun means Nevada expects to spend $22.6 million in general funds in fiscal year 2017, rather than the $8.5 million it originally projected.