Rep. Wasserman Schultz Statement on Governor Scott's Meeting with HHS Secretary Sylvia Mathews Burwell

Washington, DC, May 6, 2015
I strongly urge Governor Scott to show leadership once and for all and work with the state legislature to expand Medicaid. It is time for him to face the facts: Failure to expand Medicaid will be nothing less than catastrophic for the state of Florida. More than 800,000 Floridians need access to quality, affordable health care.

Today, Governor Rick Scott met with Secretary of Health and Human Services Sylvia Mathews Burwell to discuss Florida’s Medicaid program and Low Income Pool (LIP) program. Rep. Wasserman Schultz (FL-23) issued the following statement:

“I strongly urge Governor Scott to show leadership once and for all and work with the state legislature to expand Medicaid. It is time for him to face the facts: Failure to expand Medicaid will be nothing less than catastrophic for the state of Florida. More than 800,000 Floridians need access to quality, affordable health care. The federal government has guaranteed billions of dollars to provide this expansion.

“Governor Scott’s single-minded reliance on LIP is shortsighted and dangerous for Florida’s long-term economic well-being as well as the sustainability of its health care system. The LIP program was always intended to be temporary and last year HHS gave clear public notice on their decision to finally change it; Florida’s leaders should not claim otherwise. In addition, Florida has had to apply for one-year, stopgap patches to receive LIP money for the past five years. This is an economically reckless way to balance our state’s budget and Governor Scott ought to know better. Finally, as CMS has pointed out, Medicaid expansion could increase Florida’s economic activity by nearly $9 billion in just the first three years.

“Health insurance coverage, not uncompensated care pools, is the most effective way to ensure access to affordable care for hardworking, low-income individuals and families. Expanding Medicaid will ensure more Floridians are covered by quality, affordable health insurance than ever before, while also reducing significant burdens on Florida’s hospitals and taxpayers, who foot the bill for uncompensated care.

“I commend the Florida State Senate and Senate President Andy Gardiner for engaging in productive dialogue on Medicaid expansion. While some items of the State Senate’s proposals are concerning, it is a reasonable starting place. The Florida House of Representatives, Speaker Steve Crisafulli, and Speaker-Designate Richard Corcoran need to drop their “my way or the highway” attitude and work with Governor Scott and the State Senate to protect Floridians’ health care coverage.”

 

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Contact:

Sean Bartlett, Sean.Bartlett@mail.house.gov

Geoff Burgan, Geoff.Burgan@mail.house.gov

(202) 225-7931