A panel of Wyoming lawmakers endorses reforming the state’s Medicaid program to cut costs.

The Legislature’s Joint Labor, Health and Social Services Committee on Monday voted to proceed with a series of possible reforms to try to curb Medicaid costs. The state and federal governments currently spend more than $500 million a year on the health care program for low-income people.

The Casper Star-Tribune reports that the committee wants to study the possibility of paying private organizations to take over program management.

Republican Senator Charles Scott of Casper is co-chairman of the committee. He says that turning the program over to private industry could save money but also has implications for both health care providers and recipients.