Fla. Gov. In DC To Push For Hospital Funds To Cover Uninsured
Gov. Rick Scott planned to meet today with members of the Obama administration to seek the extension of federal Medicaid funds to cover hospital care of the uninsured but said he would not change his opposition to expanding Medicaid. Meanwhile, Politico reports that the administration made it clear to Florida officials more than a year ago that it would extend that funding for one year but not beyond that.
The Associated Press:
Scott Headed To DC To Negotiate For Florida Hospital Funds
Gov. Rick Scott is heading to Washington to try to convince the Obama administration to release federal hospital funds, but he insists that he will not support expanding Medicaid insurance to more than 800,000 Floridians. The Republican governor wants an extension on the more than $1 billion in low income pool funds, set to expire June 30th, for hospitals that treat low-income and Medicaid patients. But the federal government wants states to expand Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act, arguing it's more efficient to give people money to help buy health insurance than to pay hospitals for caring for the uninsured retroactively. (Kennedy, 5/5)
Politico Pro:
Losing LIP: Florida Hospitals Say It’s No Surprise
Bruce Rueben says the fate of the Florida Low-Income Pool, which provides billions of dollars to cover uncompensated care costs, was clear to him more than a year ago. The Florida Hospital Association president and two state hospital executives were in Washington to press for an extension of program funding. During their April 10, 2014, meeting at CMS, agency officials said the state would receive a one-year continuation of LIP money — but that was it. (Pradhan, 5/5)
