IN OUR OPINION

Editorial: It's now or never

Published: Thursday, April 11, 2013 at 10:44 p.m.

Last Modified: Thursday, April 11, 2013 at 10:44 p.m.

With less than four weeks remaining in the legislative session, Florida lawmakers have yet to answer a crucial question: Will they allow the expansion of Medicaid coverage?

The answer is crucial from a humanitarian standpoint. If Medicaid is expanded under the federal Affordable Care Act, more than 1 million uninsured Floridians — including more than 80,000 here in Marion County — would be eligible for health care coverage.

But it's crucial from an economic standpoint as well. If the Legislature approves Medicaid expansion, an estimated $55 billion in federal funds would flow into Florida over the next decade. Hospitals and doctors would be direct beneficiaries, but the state economy as a whole would benefit from creation of more than 120,000 permanent jobs, according to a University of Florida study.

Despite the potential benefits, the prospects of legislative approval have not been promising.

But there's new hope that — with the public's help — the prognosis might improve.

Gov. Rick Scott has reversed his earlier opposition to expansion, and the Senate is weighing an alternative plan, but House leaders — primarily Speaker Will Weatherford — remain reluctant.

Weatherford has said Florida can't count on the federal government — which under the ACA would fund 100 percent of Medicaid expansion for the first three years of the plan and 90 percent thereafter — providing the promised funding, and the state would be on the hook for coverage it can't afford. Yet even the staunchly conservative Scott said he's willing to try expansion for at least the initial three years, citing the need to try to help Florida's uninsured.

The Republican-controlled Senate, meanwhile, is considering an alternative plan that could give the state more flexibility.

Sen. Joe Negron, Republican chairman of both the Appropriations Committee and a select commission exploring expansion, has proposed using the federal dollars to fund a state-based program, called Healthy Florida, that would subsidize expanded Medicaid coverage through private insurers.

While the alternative would have to be approved by federal officials, it has bipartisan support in the Senate and Scott also has signaled his support.

Even Weatherford's opposition to expansion appears to be softening. He recently said he expects the House to propose its own alternative "in the very near future."

Then last week he suggested he might be open to accepting federal money. "You never say ‘never' in this business. I've learned that," Weatherford told reporters.

But, with less than a month left in the session, the "near future" is here. It is now or never.

That's where the public comes in. While Floridians have said in polls that they overwhelmingly support Medicaid expansion, many legislators say they "haven't heard from their constituents" on this issue.

Now is the time to speak up. Call or write your legislators, the Senate and House leadership and Gov. Scott. Tell them you support Medicaid expansion and the benefits it would bring to the uninsured, to hospitals and doctors, and to Florida's economy.

As we've said before, Medicaid has its flaws and expansion isn't a cure-all. Costs must be contained and coordination of care improved. We hope the federal government's agreement to let Florida use managed care for Medicaid programs helps.

<p>With less than four weeks remaining in the legislative session, Florida lawmakers have yet to answer a crucial question: Will they allow the expansion of Medicaid coverage?</p><p>The answer is crucial from a humanitarian standpoint. If Medicaid is expanded under the federal Affordable Care Act, more than 1 million uninsured Floridians — including more than 80,000 here in Marion County — would be eligible for health care coverage.</p><p>But it's crucial from an economic standpoint as well. If the Legislature approves Medicaid expansion, an estimated $55 billion in federal funds would flow into Florida over the next decade. Hospitals and doctors would be direct beneficiaries, but the state economy as a whole would benefit from creation of more than 120,000 permanent jobs, according to a University of Florida study.</p><p>Despite the potential benefits, the prospects of legislative approval have not been promising.</p><p>But there's new hope that — with the public's help — the prognosis might improve.</p><p>Gov. Rick Scott has reversed his earlier opposition to expansion, and the Senate is weighing an alternative plan, but House leaders — primarily Speaker Will Weatherford — remain reluctant.</p><p>Weatherford has said Florida can't count on the federal government — which under the ACA would fund 100 percent of Medicaid expansion for the first three years of the plan and 90 percent thereafter — providing the promised funding, and the state would be on the hook for coverage it can't afford. Yet even the staunchly conservative Scott said he's willing to try expansion for at least the initial three years, citing the need to try to help Florida's uninsured.</p><p>The Republican-controlled Senate, meanwhile, is considering an alternative plan that could give the state more flexibility.</p><p>Sen. Joe Negron, Republican chairman of both the Appropriations Committee and a select commission exploring expansion, has proposed using the federal dollars to fund a state-based program, called Healthy Florida, that would subsidize expanded Medicaid coverage through private insurers.</p><p>While the alternative would have to be approved by federal officials, it has bipartisan support in the Senate and Scott also has signaled his support.</p><p>Even Weatherford's opposition to expansion appears to be softening. He recently said he expects the House to propose its own alternative "in the very near future."</p><p>Then last week he suggested he might be open to accepting federal money. "You never say 'never' in this business. I've learned that," Weatherford told reporters.</p><p>But, with less than a month left in the session, the "near future" is here. It is now or never.</p><p>That's where the public comes in. While Floridians have said in polls that they overwhelmingly support Medicaid expansion, many legislators say they "haven't heard from their constituents" on this issue.</p><p>Now is the time to speak up. Call or write your legislators, the Senate and House leadership and Gov. Scott. Tell them you support Medicaid expansion and the benefits it would bring to the uninsured, to hospitals and doctors, and to Florida's economy.</p><p>As we've said before, Medicaid has its flaws and expansion isn't a cure-all. Costs must be contained and coordination of care improved. We hope the federal government's agreement to let Florida use managed care for Medicaid programs helps.</p><p>But doing nothing about expansion is not a responsible option.</p>