Florida Gov. Rick Scott became the seventh Republican governor to agree to accept federal funds in exchange for expanded eligibility for the state's Medicaid program.
The governor's announcement took a personal tone, saying the death of his mother last year gave him a "new perspective" on healthcare for the uninsured. Gov. Scott, an opponent of President Barack Obama's signature healthcare legislation, said, "I cannot, in good conscience, deny the uninsured access to care," when the federal government was willing to pay 100 percent of the additional cost for three years and no less than 90 percent after that.
The expansion would add an estimated 1 million Florida residents to the Medicaid rolls, but must pass the state's legislature to be made law, according to a Tampa Bay Times report. Some GOP lawmakers have voiced hesitancy to add any additional liabilities to the state's healthcare budget.
Gov. Scott made his announcement hours after HHS agreed to grant Florida a waiver to privatize its Medicaid program to run as a managed care plan. He and his administration hope the measure will reduce the overall cost of care, and he made clear the expansion decision would hinge on whether the waiver was approved.
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The governor's announcement took a personal tone, saying the death of his mother last year gave him a "new perspective" on healthcare for the uninsured. Gov. Scott, an opponent of President Barack Obama's signature healthcare legislation, said, "I cannot, in good conscience, deny the uninsured access to care," when the federal government was willing to pay 100 percent of the additional cost for three years and no less than 90 percent after that.
The expansion would add an estimated 1 million Florida residents to the Medicaid rolls, but must pass the state's legislature to be made law, according to a Tampa Bay Times report. Some GOP lawmakers have voiced hesitancy to add any additional liabilities to the state's healthcare budget.
Gov. Scott made his announcement hours after HHS agreed to grant Florida a waiver to privatize its Medicaid program to run as a managed care plan. He and his administration hope the measure will reduce the overall cost of care, and he made clear the expansion decision would hinge on whether the waiver was approved.
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