Medicaid eligibility would be tightened under a bill passing the House and moving to the Senate. The bill would limit the income a family could have and their assets. It would also subject optional programs in Medicaid to the annual budget process. Republicans pushed the measure through on a straight party-line vote. They say the growth of Medicaid has to be dealt with. They point out Medicaid consumed only 8 percent of the state budget in 1980 and now takes up 23 percent.
