Joe Negron-led Senate Committee Takes Up Hot-Button Medicaid Expansion

The Florida Senate Select Committee on the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPCA) will take up Medicaid expansion and items related to implementation of Obamacare Monday at 1 p.m.

The committee is set to make its recommendations in a meeting that was postponed from March 4 the same day its House counterpart voted against Medicaid expansion. The 10-5 House committee vote was cast in support of Rep. Matt Hudson's, R-Naples, motion to direct staff not to write any legislation that would make Medicaid expansion law in Florida. The committee and House Speaker Will Weatherford voiced their concern that implementation would increase costs for Floridians while decreasing services.

The facts show that health care costs will go up for many Floridians, while access to and quality of health care will go down, said Weatherford, R-Wesley Chapel, after the committees vote. The 'all or nothing' approach that the Obama administration is offering will not work for our state. I know there will be continued discussion about this matter, and I look forward to exploring better policies for our state.

The Senate committee meeting is scheduled to run to 3 p.m.