Fla. Lawmakers’ Medicaid Expansion Plans Draw Attacks From Conservative Group
The Americans for Prosperity, an advocacy group financed by the Koch brothers, is taking aim at Florida Senate President Andy Gardiner, a Republican, and others in the state senate. In response, a coalition of business leaders released a letter thanking them for their work on the issue. In other Medicaid news, California will seek a federal waiver to continue its health reform plans, and Sen. Claire McCaskill, D-Mo., places blame for future shortcomings in geriatric care on Missouri legislators' failure to pursue an expansion of the state-federal health insurance program for people with low incomes.
Orlando Sentinel:
Koch Brothers Group Attacks Gardiner, Senate Over Medicaid Expansion
Americans for Prosperity, the free-market advocacy group financed by the billionaire industrialists Charles and David Koch, is going on the attack. The group sent mail ads Monday to the districts of Senate President Andy Gardiner, R-Orlando, and 24 other senators over their support for a plan to expand Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act, or Obamacare. ... AFP sent the mailers to the districts of senators who voted for the Medicaid expansion plan in committee. Gardiner, who is vice president of external affairs at Orlando Health, doesn’t sit on any committee as Senate President, but pushed expansion from the onset of the legislative session. (Rohrer, 3/30)
Miami Herald:
Conservative Group Targets Senators Who Voted For Medicaid Expansion Plan
The Senate has been advancing plan to use federal money to extend healthcare coverage to nearly one million low-income Floridians. The proposal is not Medicaid expansion as envisioned under the Affordable Care Act. Instead, it would require Florida create a state-run marketplace for private health insurance. What's more, beneficiaries would have to pay small monthly premiums and meet a work requirement. Still, House Speaker Steve Crisafulli, R-Merritt Island, has said he isn't interested. (McGrory, 3/30)
Tampa Bay Times:
Business Group Thanks Senate For 'Bold Leadership' On Medicaid Expansion
One day after a conservative advocacy group sent out mailers attacking the senators who support Medicaid expansion, a coalition of business leaders released a video thanking the Senate for its "bold leadership and courage." The group, a Healthy Florida Works, was instrumental in drafting the Senate's plan to expand healthcare coverage to nearly one million poor Floridians. (McGrory, 3/31)
Health News Florida:
Koch-Backed Political Group Targets Senators Supporting Medicaid In Florida
The conservative political group Americans for Prosperity is taking aim at Florida Senate President Andy Gardiner’s Medicaid expansion plans. ... The group, backed by the Koch brothers, wants to expand telemedicine, eliminate government oversight of health care and allow some health care workers to do more. (Aboraya, 3/31)
The Associated Press:
Florida Senators Meet With Feds Over Health Care Money
Amid growing budget discord that could derail this year's session of the Florida Legislature, Senate President Andy Gardiner dispatched two top Republican senators to Washington to talk with federal officials about more than $1 billion in health care grants the state could soon lose. Gardiner, an Orlando Republican who works for a hospital, took the unusual step even as top officials with the administration of Gov. Rick Scott are directly negotiating with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and the Obama administration. (Fineout, 3/31)
California Healthline:
State Submits $17B Waiver Plan; Advocates Urge Medi-Cal Rate Review
California health officials submitted a Medicaid waiver request to federal regulators calling for $17 billion in health care reform projects in a five-year proposal. (Gorn, 3/31)
St. Louis Public Radio:
McCaskill: Elderly Among Those Hurt By Missouri's Refusal To Expand Medicaid
As U.S. Sen. Claire McCaskill sees it, the Missouri General Assembly will be sharing more of the blame as the state’s medical professionals find it more difficult to provide the services and funding needed to care for Missouri’s growing elderly population. McCaskill, D-Mo., told local geriatric specialists Tuesday that the state’s refusal to expand Medicaid – as sought by the federal Affordable Care Act – will be felt particularly in nursing homes and hospitals around the state. (Mannies, 3/31)
