There’s widespread confusion surrounding Virginia’s decision to create a panel to oversee Medicaid reforms in the state, with both parties divided on what it will mean for 400,000 poor residents.

The General Assembly last month agreed to create a commission of 10 lawmakers to monitor progress on a set of Medicaid reforms that the state insists must be in place before it will consider expansion of the state-federal health care program under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. Democrats won approval of the commission after threatening to block Gov. Bob McDonnell’s historic transportation package.