Florida Gov. Rick Scott recently introduced a potential major shift for healthcare in the sunshine state when he announced that he will urge the Legislature to accept federal funds to expand Medicaid.
“While the federal government is committed to pay 100 percent of the cost of new people in Medicaid, I cannot, in good conscience, deny the uninsured access to care,” Scott told the Tampa Bay Times.
One million of Florida's four million uninsured will be eligible for coverage with Scott's proposed Medicaid expansion. Although Scott supports the expansion, ultimately the Legislature will make the final decision.
Scott stated in a recent release, “Expanding access to Medicaid services for three years is a compassionate commonsense step forward.”
He added, “It is not the end of our work to improve health care. And it is not a white flag of surrender to government-run health care. I am committed to working every day to improve access to affordable, high-quality health care in Florida, while also protecting taxpayers and keeping our economy growing to create more jobs – which ultimately fuels the dreams of every Florida family.”
