Florida House Approves Six Bills Targeting High Health Care Costs

Miami Herald: Florida House Passes Healthcare Bills, Hoping To Drive Down Costs
The Florida House on Friday attacked and changed regulations that it says make it too expensive for people to see a doctor or go to the hospital. Six bills passed Friday are the Republican-controlled chamber’s answer to rising — and often prohibitively expensive — healthcare costs. Their move comes one week after the House voted down a Senate plan to accept federal Medicaid expansion money to pay for insurance for poor Floridians. Among the most significant changes contemplated under the House’s plan is a proposal to end the “certificate of need” program. Through certificates of need, the state regulates the number of hospital, nursing home and hospice beds, requiring approval for new facilities and expansions. (Auslen, 6/13)

Tampa Bay Times: Florida Lawmakers Reach Deal To Distribute More Than $2B To Hospitals
The biggest piece of Florida's budget puzzle fell into place Friday as state legislators divvied up $2 billion to hospitals for the costs of treating millions of people with no health insurance. Working through the night, they split a pot of federal, state and local tax money among 134 hospitals for charity care in the low-income pool or LIP that's being cut back by the Obama administration. ... To make up for the federal cut, the state will pump nearly $400 million into LIP in next year's budget, eating up nearly half of a projected $1 billion surplus. That $400 million will draw an additional $600 million in matching federal money. (Bousquet, 6/12)

In Alaska, legislators will hire a consultant to help lawmakers separate “fact from fiction” in the Medicaid expansion debate. Meanwhile, an expansion measure is unlikely to be introduced during the 2016 session of Wyoming's legislature -

Alaska Dispatch News: Legislature Seeks New Medicaid Expert To Review Expansion Policy
The Alaska Legislature plans to hire a consultant to help lawmakers separate “fact from fiction” in the debate over expansion and reform of the public Medicaid health care program. The Legislative Budget and Audit Committee, chaired by Rep. Mike Hawker, R-Anchorage, on Friday issued a request for proposals for what it called an “independent professional policy resource.” ... The request for proposals issued Friday says that the consultant will analyze Medicaid reform and expansion bills being considered by the Legislature, and make presentations to committees and answer lawmakers’ questions. Committee hearings are expected to occur during special legislative sessions this fall, as well as during the next regular legislative session, beginning in January, the request says. (Herz, 6/12)

Casper Star-Tribune: Medicaid Expansion In Wyoming Likely On Hiatus In 2016 Session
Wyoming lawmakers rejected Medicaid expansion in each of the past three years and appear unlikely to pass the Obamacare initiative in 2016, legislators and advocates say. Meantime, 17,600 Wyomingites remain without health coverage. ... the 2016 session will only last four weeks, and most of the focus will be on passing a two-year budget. Due to the time crunch, legislative rules require nonbudget bills receive two-thirds vote to be introduced. ... [State Sen. Charlie] Scott and [state Rep. Elaine] Harvey said that their committees ... [are] also keeping an eye on a Supreme Court case that will be decided in coming weeks that could affect another aspect of the ACA -- federal subsidies to Wyomingites who receive insurance on the exchange. That’s a different population than the 17,600 in the expansion gap. The court could end the subsidies, which could create other health care challenges in Wyoming, Harvey said. (Hancock, 6/13)