(Image source from: EI Nuevo Heraldo)

The officials of Virginia are gearing up for a monolithic bureaucratic blitz to put about 40,000 new adults in the State's Medicaid program and health clinics for a huge overhaul are preparing for how the state delivers cares for the hapless.

The General Assembly approved a budget of state that enlarges medicaid, concluding a year's long battle of partisan while putting pressure on Gov. Ralph Northam's governance to ease a smooth roll out.

"Now we need to execute," Northam said late Wednesday after the GOP-controlled assembly gave final approval for Medicaid expansion. "We'll show the rest of the country the Virginia way, and we'll do it right."

Expanding the medical aid was a key allocation of former United State President Barack Obama. Obama's health care overhaul that Supreme Court ruled was optional for states. Virginia will be the 33rd state to expand, according to Kaiser Family Foundation.

"The Medicaid plan amendment will be submitted to the federal government for expansion within weeks, if not days after a budget is signed," said Dr. Jennifer Lee, director of Virginia Department of Medical Assistance Services.

Northam said he expects newly eligible low-income adults to start enrolling on Jan. 1 of next year.

The lawmakers passed a budget on Wednesday that include $3.5 million for the state to hire a consultant to aid with the waiver that must be submitted within 150 days of the budget becoming law to the federal government for review.

Northam said he was willing to compromise with Republicans on work requirements in order to get Medicaid expansion passed. But he said he views the provision as a "work search" incentive.

"I would much rather have it as a carrot than a stick," Northam said. "I don't want to penalize people."

By Sowmya Sangam