Judge Denies Florida’s Request For Mediation In Dispute With Federal Officials On Hospital Funds
Gov. Rick Scott has argued that the Obama administration is pressuring the state to expand Medicaid by reducing funds for hospitals that treat large numbers of uninsured patients.
Miami Herald:
Judge Denies Gov. Scott's Request For Mediation Over LIP Program
A federal judge on Wednesday denied a request from Gov. Rick Scott that the court intervene in the state’s ongoing negotiations with healthcare regulators over the extension and revamping of a $1 billion government program that pays hospitals for caring for uninsured and under-insured patients. In denying Gov. Scott’s request, Chief Judge for the U.S. District Court in Pensacola M. Casey Rodgers cited a June 19 hearing in the state's lawsuit against the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services that will require “extensive preparation on the part of all parties.’’ (Chang, 6/10)
News Service of Florida/Orlando Sentinel:
Judge Rejects Mediation In Health-Care Funding Dispute
Scott filed the lawsuit in April, contending that the Obama administration was trying to unconstitutionally link continuation of the state's Low Income Pool health-funding program with expansion of Medicaid. The federal government has called those arguments "baseless" and has indicated that the state will receive about $1 billion in Low Income Pool funding for the fiscal year that starts July 1. While the $1 billion is a reduction from the current year's funding for the so-called LIP program, state lawmakers are using that number as they negotiate a budget during an ongoing special session. (6/10)
The Associated Press:
Judge Denies Scott's Request For Mediations With Feds
Scott said in a statement Wednesday he was disappointed with the ruling and with the administration for delaying a decision. (6/10)