Medicaid

Supporters have argued that expanding the program would bring in millions of dollars of federal money to the state.

It is believed that about 24,000 to 25,000 people in Wyoming who don't currently have health insurance would be eligible under the expansion.

The bill now moves on to the full Wyoming Senate.

Bills to expand Medicaid coverage in Wyoming have been proposed for years, but none has ever won final approval.

The bill would require the governor to give the legislature written notice of any plans to expand Medicaid.

The Wyoming Department of Health estimates Medicaid expansion would provide health care coverage to an additional 19,000 Wyomingites.

An estimated 19,000 residents would be covered initially if Medicaid expansion were approved.

Wyoming lawmakers have rejected several proposals to expand Medicaid in the state over the last few years.