Virginia business, hospital groups launch ads promoting Medicaid compromise

The radio promotion is trying to drum up support for a private option plan that would help insure thousands of low-income residents. Gov. Terry McAuliffe also is barnstorming around the state seeking to put pressure on Republican lawmakers who are opposed to the expansion of Medicaid.

The Richmond Times-Dispatch: Coalition Launches Ads To Push Private Health Insurance Option
A coalition that includes chambers of commerce and the Virginia Hospital & Healthcare Association launched a radio, online and social media campaign Friday to rally support for a private option plan to expand health insurance to hundreds of thousands of Virginians. The minute-long radio ad, paid for by the hospital and health care association, asks listeners to join in urging state lawmakers to "put Virginia first, reject the politics of Washington, and work together to return our tax dollars to help working Virginians" (Meola, 3/14).

The Associated Press: McAuliffe Travels Va. Touting Medicaid Expansion
In his first months on the job, Virginia Gov. Terry McAuliffe is trying to capitalize on Democrats' takeover of top state offices and the state Senate by pushing a key element of President Barack Obama's health care law through a Republican-dominated House of Delegates. ... Now McAuliffe is drawing on his past as a rock-star fundraiser by barnstorming cash-strapped hospitals to pressure the House to accept billions in federal money to insure the poor (Suderman, 3/15).

The Associated Press: Medicaid Expansion Supporters Rally At Capitol
Several hundred supporters of Medicaid expansion gathered at the state Capitol on Saturday to send a message to Republic lawmakers who have blocked Democratic Gov. Terry McAuliffe's top legislative priority (O'Dell, 3/16).

And in Medicaid expansion news elsewhere -

Detroit News: Glitches Stall 84,000 Medicaid Requests In Michigan
Medicaid benefits are being delayed for tens of thousands of Michigan residents because of glitches in the insurance marketplace for new applicants, according to the Michigan Department of Community Health. Medicaid applications filed on the federal healthcare.gov website since Oct. 1 haven't been getting processed, because the state hasn't been getting complete applications back from the federal government, department spokeswoman Angela Minicuci said. Processing cannot be completed without all key information, she said (Bouffard, 3/17).

The Associated Press: 'Private Option' Overshadows GOP Primaries In Ark. 
A candidate for Arkansas state treasurer calls his opponent a "floor leader for Obamacare" and a state auditor hopeful accuses his rival of supporting the president's healthcare law multiple times in the Legislature. Running for a state Senate seat, a Republican says the incumbent he's trying to unseat wasn't there for voters when they needed someone to oppose a compromise Medicaid expansion. ... with the state's compromise Medicaid expansion reauthorized for another year, GOP candidates are facing friendly fire over the same issue that has boosted their political fortune in the state (3/16).