Florida?s Medicaid expansion could hit legislative opposition

JIM SAUNDERS, THE NEWS SERVICE OF FLORIDA

Gov. Rick Scott dropped a bombshell Wednesday when he announced support for a Medicaid expansion. But a day later, it remained unclear whether the idea would get through the Republican-dominated Legislature.

House GOP leaders appear to have the strongest reservations, with Speaker Will Weatherford, R-Wesley Chapel, and Appropriations Chairman Seth McKeel, R-Lakeland, publicly expressing doubts about the wisdom of the expansion.

?I remain skeptical that that?s in the best interests of the state,? McKeel said Thursday morning.

Weatherford, during an appearance before the Florida Retail Federation and in a television interview, also repeatedly used the word ?skeptical.? Pointing to broader federal budget and debt problems, he questioned whether Washington would make good on a promise to pay billions of dollars for the expansion.

?We?re talking about a federal government that is not able to pay its bills,?? Weatherford said during an appearance on the show, ?Florida Face to Face.?

Some Senate Republicans indicated they might be more willing to go along with Scott, who said he would support expanding Medicaid eligibility for three years and then revisiting the issue. The federal government is slated to pay all of the expansion costs for the first three years, before the state has to pick up a portion of the tab.

?I support the governor, and I think the Senate has an open mind on it,?? said Sen. Jack Latvala, R-Clearwater. He later added, ?I think we give it a shot and see how it works.?

Senate Health Policy Chairman Aaron Bean, R-Fernandina Beach, pointed to the possibility that a Medicaid expansion could help ?safety net? hospitals that serve large numbers of low-income and uninsured people. More Medicaid coverage would produce additional revenues for hospitals, helping offset other types of funding cuts.

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