The author of a plan to overhaul Florida Medicaid said if HHS does not allow the plan to go forward, the state may exit the program altogether, according to a report by the Florida Times-Union.
"If the federal government elects not to allow us to manage the program the way we believe is in Florida's best interests, then we'll operate our Medicaid program with our resources," said GOP State Sen. Joe Negron.
The proposed overhaul would double payments to primary care physicians, reduce administrative payments to managed care plans, require plans to cut costs and provide vouchers to enrollees who choose to buy private insurance.
Medicaid is expected to cost the state more than $22 billion in fiscal year 2012, which begins July 1. If Florida left the Medicaid program, it would lose all federal funding, which finances more than half of the state program.
Read the Florida Times-Union report on Medicaid.
Read more coverage on states' efforts to alter their Medicaid programs:
- California Officials Propose Cap for Physician Visits Covered by Medi-Call
- Supreme Court to Hear States' Call to Cut Medicaid Spending
- HHS Secretary Lists 3 Ways States Could Cut Medicaid Costs Without a Waiver
"If the federal government elects not to allow us to manage the program the way we believe is in Florida's best interests, then we'll operate our Medicaid program with our resources," said GOP State Sen. Joe Negron.
The proposed overhaul would double payments to primary care physicians, reduce administrative payments to managed care plans, require plans to cut costs and provide vouchers to enrollees who choose to buy private insurance.
Medicaid is expected to cost the state more than $22 billion in fiscal year 2012, which begins July 1. If Florida left the Medicaid program, it would lose all federal funding, which finances more than half of the state program.
Read the Florida Times-Union report on Medicaid.
Read more coverage on states' efforts to alter their Medicaid programs:
- California Officials Propose Cap for Physician Visits Covered by Medi-Call
- Supreme Court to Hear States' Call to Cut Medicaid Spending
- HHS Secretary Lists 3 Ways States Could Cut Medicaid Costs Without a Waiver