Governors' agendas include Medicaid but not much on state insurance exchanges

Meanwhile, a Colorado legislator seeks to force the governor to ask for a waiver to change the Medicaid program.

Politico Pro: Exchanges: Small Profile In Big Speeches
It's that big speech time of year again: state of the state addresses. But if you're looking for a big dose of health policy on governors' agendas, you might be disappointed. The sample size is still small -; 10 Republican governors and six Democrats have delivered their speech to date, according to Stateline. While Medicaid, a big budget worry, was in most of the speeches, only four even mentioned health care exchanges, which seems like a notable omission in what should be a year heavy on exchange building (Norman, 1/13).

Denver Post: Republican Senator's Bill Would Force State To Seek Medicaid Waiver, Allow Asset Test
The state can't get a federal waiver to reduce Medicaid costs? Prove it, says state Sen. Greg Brophy. The Wray Republican on Wednesday filed a bill that would require the Colorado Department of Health Care Policy and Financing to seek a federal waiver that would allow the state to set its own eligibility levels for Medicaid and other health programs such as CHP+, which insures poor children and pregnant women. Under the federal Affordable Care Act, eligibility cannot be decreased (Hoover, 1/12).