Ledyard King, USA TODAY Published 8:07 p.m. ET Feb. 27, 2017 | Updated 11 hours ago<\/p>\n
Florida Gov. discusses \"flexibility\" when it comes to residents getting affordable care. <\/p>\n
Gov. Rick Scott addresses the media.(Photo: Ledyard King\/USA TODAY Network) <\/p>\n
WASHINGTON - After years battling Obama administration directives on health care, the environment and other federal programs, Florida Gov. Rick Scott has been treated like a close pal by President Donald Trump the past few days. <\/p>\n
Which he is. <\/p>\n
They had lunch. They had dinner. They even took in the hit film La La Land together. Tuesday, hell be attending the presidents address to a joint session of Congress. <\/p>\n
For a guy who grew up in public housing to be able to have lunch at the White House, watch a movie and go to dinner with the president at his hotel is pretty amazing, Scott, one of Trumps early campaign backers last year, told reporters Monday afternoon. <\/p>\n
The governors trip to Washington has helped cement his buddy status with the leader of the free world. Whats less clear is how much the governor is helping to shape the presidents thinking on a replacement for the Affordable Care Act. <\/p>\n
Repeating earlier assertions that the health care law is a mess, Scott, the former CEO of the nations largest hospital company, said the time he spent discussing health care policy with Trump centered on big-picture themes, such as more flexibility for states and consumers. <\/p>\n
I talked to him about the free market, the governor told reporters. You need to let people compete, let people buy the insurance that they believe works for them. You might have different health issues than I have so you want to buy a different policy. You dont want the federal government tell you what policies you have to buy. <\/p>\n
Scott was asked whether he had discussed with the president specific ideas he has proposed in Florida, such as changes to hospital reimbursement rates or increased transparency in medical costs. <\/p>\n
We more talked about the overall system, and how you fix that, the governor said. <\/p>\n
Scott is one of several governors who have been in town to share their views on what to do about the health care law, which Trump called a disaster on the campaign trail. <\/p>\n
On Friday, Republican Gov. John Kasich of Ohio, who has largely defended the law as good for his state, met with the president to push back against the laws full dismantling. <\/p>\n
He said Trump was very responsive to his concerns about the GOP push to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act, which has allowed 700,000 Ohioans to gain insurance since its enactment. Kasich has publicly called on Republicans in Congress to preserve the Medicaid expansion, which he says has helped improve health outcomes for low-income Ohioans. <\/p>\n
He was very open to it and asked a number of questions, Kasich said. <\/p>\n
Scott did not seem fazed by angry constituents who have packed congressional town halls across Florida and the nation in recent weeks to denounce Republican efforts to undo the health care law. <\/p>\n
We all want people to get health care, Scott said. But Obamacare is a disaster. President Trump inherited an absolute mess. <\/p>\n
Contributing Deirdre Shesgreen, USA TODAY <\/p>\n
Contact Ledyard King at lking@gannett.com<\/a>; Twitter: @ledgeking <\/p>\n Read or Share this story: http:\/\/on.flatoday.com\/2mxVJV7<\/a> <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Read the rest here:<\/p>\n Scott pushes health care reform to pal Trump - Florida Today<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Ledyard King, USA TODAY Published 8:07 p.m. ET Feb Continue reading