Feds confirm higher-than-expected Medicaid expansion costs

By William Patrick

Six years after the 2010 health care overhaul became law, Florida has yet to embrace one of the law’s core features: Medicaid expansion. Citing exorbitant costs, among other reasons, Republican Gov. Rick Scott and legislative leaders have resisted federal funding temptations to expand the joint federal-state health insurance program. Turning away an estimated $17 billion in “free” funding, to-date, has come amid intense public pressure. Newspaper editorial boards, public interest groups and others have expressed strong moral sentiments for helping the uninsured through Medicaid. Scott himself initially sided with expansion advocates before firmly planting against it......To Read More....