Manatee County to Pursue Legal Action over State's Medicaid Bill

Manatee County will sue or join a lawsuit against the state of Florida over the controversial Medicaid bill, HB 5301, that will require counties to pay more into Medicaid, including 85 percent of what the state claims are years of unpaid bills.

Manatee County owes about $4 million in back Medicaid fees.

Manatee County commissioners voted 6-0 on Tuesday to pursue legal action, according to the Sarasota Herald-Tribune.

County Attorney Tedd Williams said the motion authorizes the filing of two suits, one with the Florida Association of Counties, and one by the county alone, the Herald Tribune reported. 'If filing alone, further board approval is needed,' he said."

Gov. Rick Scott signed the bill on March 29.

Legislators have said the state has been unable to collect from counties full payment for Medicaid bills for residents who receive health care through the state-federal program for low-income and disabled patients. They put the past-due tab near $300 million.

The Association of Counties has countered that the past-due payments are the fault of state accounting errors.