WBRZ - Baton Rouge

BATON ROUGE - This morning, state lawmakers plan to weigh the pros and cons of expanding Louisiana's Medicaid program to cover more uninsured adults.

During the hearing, The Senate and House insurance committees will get information about the federal health care law that allows for the expansion.

Gov. Jindal opposes the expansion, but lawmakers haven't voted on the idea.

A bill has been filed to authorize the expansion for consideration in the upcoming legislative session that begins April 8.

Jindal calls the Medicaid expansion an inappropriate growth of an inefficient, government-run health program and too costly for states, though the federal government would pick up the bulk of the price tag.

Estimates are that as many as 400,000 more Louisiana residents could be eligible for Medicaid under an expansion.