Rick Scott has said he'll press fellow Republicans, but Bobby Jindal opposes expansion. | AP Photos W.H. pushes Fla., La. on Medicaid

The Obama administration again called out states that have refused to expand Medicaid on Thursday, calling it a “reckless” play to undercut Obamacare at the expense of their constituents’ health.

The White House held a conference call featuring officials in Florida and Louisiana who made the case for expanding the program and attacked those holding it up. President Barack Obama is traveling to the two states tomorrow on unrelated business, but the messaging is part of a larger drive to draw attention to the states that have refused to cover low-income people —and away from the tidal wave of bad news about Americans whose health plans are being canceled.


The administration will keep pressuring states on Medicaid because “we believe that it is reckless that some governors are so determined to see the law not succeed, that they are willing” to block expansion of coverage for millions of people, David Simas, an Obama health adviser, said on the call.

( PHOTOS: The eight GOP governors who said yes to Medicaid expansion)

He said 848,000 people stood to gain coverage under Medicaid in Florida and 265,000 in Louisiana. Although Simas criticized governors in both states for blocking expansion, Florida Gov. Rick Scott has committed to keep trying to press antagonistic Republican state lawmakers. Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal, however, has consistently opposed expansion.

Thursday, the White House published a map of states for and against Medicaid expansion, but the map appeared to paint some potential allies as foes and at least one expansion resister as a friend.

( WATCH: 10 things Obama wants you to know about healthcare law)

On Wednesday, Obama rallied Obamacare outreach officials and volunteers in Dallas and attacked Texas Gov. Rick Perry for refusing expansion, which drew return fire from Perry about the recent wave of Obamacare-related cancellations.