Except for Medicaid expansion under the Affordable Care Act, as amended, if the Medicaid Agency elects to liberalize the eligibility criteria for individuals who apply for Medicaid services or to expand or increase the medical assistance benefits as defined in Title XIX of the Social Security Act which it currently provides to Medicaid beneficiaries, the state share of such funds necessary to increase medical assistance benefits or allow more persons to become eligible for Medicaid shall only be appropriated from the state General Fund and not from any funds produced or segregated for hospital payments under this article.