CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- West Virginia's plans to expand its Medicaid program have been put on hold while Congress debates overhauling the nation's health-care system.

Gov. Joe Manchin's proposal to expand Medicaid coverage for adults earning up to 50 percent of the federal poverty level, or $10,830 for individuals, would also increase state spending, an increasingly difficult course of action as the bad economy saps revenue.

"We're looking at everything humanly possible to cover everyone in West Virginia," Manchin spokesman Matt Turner said. "But we're on hold with that until we see what comes out of Washington."

About 271,000 of West Virginia's 1.8 million residents lack health insurance. This year, Manchin proposed allowing more adults to participate in Medicaid to help bring that number down.

Very few adults are allowed to participate in Medicaid in West Virginia. Currently, it's available to parents earning up to 35 percent of the federal poverty level, which is $22,050 for a family of four. Manchin's proposal would have increased that to 50 percent, and would have allowed adults without children to enroll.

On Saturday, the U.S. House of Representatives passed legislation that would require states to increase enrollment levels to 150 percent of the federal poverty level starting in 2013. The federal government would pay the full cost for the first two years, and 91 percent of the cost starting in 2015.

All of that may change now that the health-care debate has shifted to legislation in the U.S. Senate. Manchin believes it's smart to wait for the outcome, but he's frustrated by the delays even if the House measure were to pass unaltered.

"He would like to start getting people into plans quickly," Turner said. "Once something is passed, we're going to expand Medicaid as quickly as possible, if it's going to be paid for."

That caveat will be a crucial one for West Virginia, which has seen its once-enviable fiscal position deteriorate rapidly in the 10 months since Manchin proposed expanding Medicaid. Based on revenue collections so far this year, administration officials now estimate West Virginia will have a $100 million budget shortfall by the end of the fiscal year on June 30.

U.S. Rep. Shelley Moore Capito, R-2nd District, sent a letter this week to the state Department of Health and Human Resources, requesting an estimate of how much the House bill would cost West Virginia. Capito was the only member of the state's House delegation to vote against the measure.

The state doesn't have that estimate yet, according to DHHR spokeswoman Marsha Dadisman. One of the sticking points lawmakers raised about Manchin's plan this year is that the costs of expanding Medicaid weren't spelled out clearly.

But some health-care reform advocates say it could prove a savings for policyholders and health-care providers in the state.

CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- West Virginia's plans to expand its Medicaid program have been put on hold while Congress debates overhauling the nation's health-care system.

Gov. Joe Manchin's proposal to expand Medicaid coverage for adults earning up to 50 percent of the federal poverty level, or $10,830 for individuals, would also increase state spending, an increasingly difficult course of action as the bad economy saps revenue.

"We're looking at everything humanly possible to cover everyone in West Virginia," Manchin spokesman Matt Turner said. "But we're on hold with that until we see what comes out of Washington."

About 271,000 of West Virginia's 1.8 million residents lack health insurance. This year, Manchin proposed allowing more adults to participate in Medicaid to help bring that number down.

Very few adults are allowed to participate in Medicaid in West Virginia. Currently, it's available to parents earning up to 35 percent of the federal poverty level, which is $22,050 for a family of four. Manchin's proposal would have increased that to 50 percent, and would have allowed adults without children to enroll.

On Saturday, the U.S. House of Representatives passed legislation that would require states to increase enrollment levels to 150 percent of the federal poverty level starting in 2013. The federal government would pay the full cost for the first two years, and 91 percent of the cost starting in 2015.

All of that may change now that the health-care debate has shifted to legislation in the U.S. Senate. Manchin believes it's smart to wait for the outcome, but he's frustrated by the delays even if the House measure were to pass unaltered.

"He would like to start getting people into plans quickly," Turner said. "Once something is passed, we're going to expand Medicaid as quickly as possible, if it's going to be paid for."

That caveat will be a crucial one for West Virginia, which has seen its once-enviable fiscal position deteriorate rapidly in the 10 months since Manchin proposed expanding Medicaid. Based on revenue collections so far this year, administration officials now estimate West Virginia will have a $100 million budget shortfall by the end of the fiscal year on June 30.

U.S. Rep. Shelley Moore Capito, R-2nd District, sent a letter this week to the state Department of Health and Human Resources, requesting an estimate of how much the House bill would cost West Virginia. Capito was the only member of the state's House delegation to vote against the measure.

The state doesn't have that estimate yet, according to DHHR spokeswoman Marsha Dadisman. One of the sticking points lawmakers raised about Manchin's plan this year is that the costs of expanding Medicaid weren't spelled out clearly.

But some health-care reform advocates say it could prove a savings for policyholders and health-care providers in the state.