Iowa Gov. Terry Branstad joined Gov. Rick Scott on Sunday in reaffirming Scott's stance that Florida wont assist in the federal governments expansion of Medicaid through Obamacare.
The governors from key presidential swing states, appearing on Fox News Sunday with Brit Hume, said that because of the anticipated fiscal impacts -- in addition to the belief that the law is illegal -- they remain ready to reject Medicaid expansion in the Affordable Care Act allowed through the flexible opt-out provision set by the U.S. Supreme Court.
Scott said instead of setting up health care exchanges, the federal government should seek to expand private competition, allowing individuals to receive similar tax breaks in coverage as employers do, and rewarding people for living healthily.
This is just another government program where the federal government will run out of money and theyll put it on the states again. We cant afford it in Florida, Scott said.
Medicaid in our state is growing at three and a half times our general revenue.
He added that to encourage people to find employment, the state should continue to wait for a waiver from the federal government to implement a statewide managed-care program for Medicaid. It should include an insurance marketplace that allows small businesses of under 50 employees a place to compare policies.
Scott has said, since days after the court ruled last month, that Florida will opt out of the Medicaid expansion in the Affordable Care Act and won't set up insurance exchanges in which individuals can choose private health insurance plans based on price and coverage.
Branstad lashed out, "Our concern is that the federal government certainly can't afford it, and we don't think the state of Iowa can do it."
Hume pressed Scott on Sunday, saying that hospital officials contend that the uninsured will continue to use emergency rooms for treatment without the Medicaid expansion. When that happens, insurance companies and health care providers will be required to raise rates.
Scott responded that the way to fix that is what weve already proposed Medicaid expansion across the state where the Medicaid population will be taken care of by managed-care organizations, which will help make sure they get to a primary care doctor or get to a specialist so they dont end up in an emergency room. Thats the way to fix it."
The Florida Health Choice board of directors is scheduled to discuss the development of the online insurance marketplace for individuals and small businesses on Wednesday and Thursday in Orlando.
Reach Jim Turner at jturner@sunshinestatenews.com or at (772) 215-9889.
