{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://www.casey.senate.gov/newsroom/releases/casey-urges-corbett-to-expand-medicaid-now", "Casey Urges Corbett to Expand Medicaid Now", "2013-11-07", "2013", "2013-11", "Democrat", "House", "PA", "Bob Casey", "C001070", "www.casey.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Washington, DC- Today, U.S. Senator Bob Casey (D-PA) called on Governor Tom Corbett to expand Medicaid while continuing to work on his broader Medicaid reform plan. Failure to expand Medicaid before January 1, 2014 would unnecessarily penalize 500,000 Pennsylvanians who would be caught in a coverage gap because their incomes are below 100% of the federal poverty level.\r\n\u201cExpanding Medicaid is the right thing to do,\u201d said Senator Casey. \u201cIt would ensure 500,000 Pennsylvanians are covered, while the Governor continues to pursue broader Medicaid reforms.\u201d\r\nThe text of Senator Casey\u2019s letter can be found below:\r\nThe Honorable Tom Corbett  Governor of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania\r\nDear Governor Corbett:\r\nI wanted to write today regarding the need to expand the Medicaid program in Pennsylvania.\u00a0 A failure to do so would unnecessarily penalize 500,000 Pennsylvanians by preventing access to quality health care coverage.\u00a0 Unfortunately, if Pennsylvania does not expand Medicaid on January 1, 2014, many of these individuals will be caught in a coverage gap because their incomes are below 100% of the federal poverty level.\r\nI appreciate that you included Medicaid expansion in your broader Medicaid reform plan and that you have reached out to the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) on this issue, however, I understand as of last week you had not formally submitted a waiver request.\u00a0 Accordingly, I urge you to expand Medicaid under the parameters of the Affordable Care Act, while continuing to engage with HHS on this.\u00a0 Expanding Medicaid on January 1, 2014 would allow you to pursue broader reforms without denying access to quality, affordable care to thousands of Pennsylvanians.\r\nThis decision is yours alone to make.\u00a0 I urge you to move forward and expand the Medicaid program.\r\nSincerely,\r\nRobert P. Casey, Jr.  United States Senator\r\n###\r\n\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\tPress Contact\r\n\t\t\t\t\tJohn Rizzo 202-228-6367", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"]], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "primary_key_values": ["https://www.casey.senate.gov/newsroom/releases/casey-urges-corbett-to-expand-medicaid-now"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 1.5770429745316505, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}