Mark Wilson, Florida Chamber of Commerce president and CEO, said the U.S. Supreme Court ruling that keeps mandates in place making people pay for health care coverage will harm Americas long-term global competitiveness.
But he also said the continued squabbling in Washington, D.C., over health care has caused many businesses to hold back on their plans for hiring and expansion because of the uncertainty on where health coverage is headed. And in many cases, employers are considering ending employer-based insurance plans because of the cost.
We have to figure out which pieces of this hold, which have to be undone and what are the remaining issues in health care, Wilson said.
Speaking at the Capitol shortly after the court offered its mixed review on the Affordable Care Act, Wilson described the ruling that he expects will take weeks to fully digest as a good day for the conversation on health care.
In this country, health care is a competitive issue and we need to figure out a way to bring down the cost of health care, but there are smart ways to do that, Wilson said.
Wilson pointed to the need to undertake legal reforms to reduce lawsuit abuse in the medical industry.
What no one is talking about is that Obamacare was completely void of legal reform ... the trial lawyers make health care and medicine in this country more expensive; there is nothing in the legislation that attacks the rising cost of lawsuit abuse, Wilson said.
We could save billions of dollars out of health care by doing simple litigation reform.
Even tax credits in the law remain tricky, he said, noting that they may help a corporation but may not bring any relief to individuals and small businesses struggling to meet insurance coverage costs.
On one hand were saying to small businesses we want you to create jobs; on the other hand, were saying were going to cost you (more money) and regulatory uncertainty and were going to make more changes next year, Wilson said.
That uncertainty has caused many businesses to hold off on using money -- Wilson said collectively nearly $2 trillion -- that has been set aside for growth because of anticipated cost increases from health care regulations.
That ought to concern all of us, he said. If businesses felt that now is the time, there is certainty, so were going to go back and were going to hire people, were going to invest in machinery, were going to invest in equipment, were going to add 200 jobs.
Scott, in a morning interview with WOKV 690-AM in Jacksonville, said the state continues to review the court ruling, but added that Florida may not be able to afford the cost of the expansion of Medicaid.
Under the court ruling the state can opt out of the Medicaid directive portion of the law, requiring Florida to chip in 10 percent of costs.
I don't know how we're ever going to be able to afford it, look at how tough our budgets are now?" Scott said.
"Medicaid is the biggest issue we have. Medicaid has been growing at three and a half times our general revenue. We cant afford it. The federal government cannot keep raising our taxes. Were killing our jobs in this country.
The Florida Chamber will continue to work with the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, which has strongly opposed the White House health care reform law that is also known as Obamacare. Wilson expects they will work to repeal sections of the Act in the coming years.
The Republican-dominated U.S. House is expected to vote against the law on July 11, proposing alternative measures to lower costs and expand access through the private insurance sector. But getting such an alternative measure through the Democrat-tilted U.S. Senate is a near impossibility.
Wilson said the law has created problems for Medicare coverage. He supports Gov. Rick Scott for maintaining his opposition to accepting federal money that was directed toward the establishment of federally required health care exchanges.
Well continue fighting for the right solutions against the wrong solution, Wilson said.
Reach Jim Turner at jturner@sunshinestatenews.com or at (772) 215-9889.
