Medicaid expansion for 70,000 Utahns passes after tense debate

SALT LAKE CITY — Following a tense debate Thursday, the Senate passed a Medicaid expansion bill that could potentially expand coverage to an additional 65,000 to 70,000 Utahns, but health advocates are skeptical about whether the move will be approved by the federal government.HB472 passed the Senate 20 to 8, making it the largest expansion of Medicaid passed by the Legislature since the Affordable Care Act came into law. The House of Representatives passed it earlier this week by a 47-27