TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) -- The administration of Gov. Rick Scott is now contending that the federal health care overhaul will cost state taxpayers billions more than estimates from just a few months ago. <\/p>\n
Scott's health care agency has drawn up dramatic new estimates that now prices the cost of implementing the overhaul including expanding the state's safety net health care program to thousands of Floridians currently ineligible at nearly $26 billion over a 10 year period. <\/p>\n
That's three times higher than the nearly $8 billion figure drawn up by state economists back in August and has immediately come under suspicion by health care advocates. <\/p>\n
State economists have not yet endorsed the new numbers from the Agency for Health Care Administration nor has the Florida Legislature. But the new numbers are sure to influence the ongoing debate about whether Florida will reject federal dollars intended to help the state expand its Medicaid program. <\/p>\n
Scott was a fierce critic of the health care overhaul, but then softened his opposition after the November election of President Barack Obama. Scott has asked to talk with federal officials and will meet Jan. 7 with Secretary Kathleen Sebelius of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. <\/p>\n
\"He continues to be concerned about how we can address cost, quality and access in health care,\" said Melissa Sellers, a spokeswoman for Scott. \"This report shows that a major expansion of the state's Medicaid system would result in major costs for Florida families.\" <\/p>\n
Greg Mellowe, policy director for the health care advocacy group Florida CHAIN, blasted the new numbers as fantasy that rely on indefensible and unreasonable assumptions. He pointed out the state assumes that everyone who would be eligible would sign up quickly for health care coverage from the state. <\/p>\n
\"These estimates are hyper-inflated and unreasonable to the point of having no real use whatsoever for planning purposes,\" Mellowe said in an email. \"They are purely intended to evoke a visceral reaction and not to assist the budgeting process.\" <\/p>\n
Medicaid is a $21 billion safety net program for the poor in Florida and currently the federal government picks up about 58 percent of the cost. <\/p>\n
Obama's health care law called for states in 2014 to expand eligibility of Medicaid to those making up to 133 percent of the poverty level, or $29,326 for a family of four in Florida. The changes would also require adding people who are below the poverty level but not eligible for Medicaid such as childless adults. <\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Read the original here: <\/p>\n
Fla. agency says health care to cost billions more<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) -- The administration of Gov Continue reading