Lawmakers disagree on health-fund cuts
Federal officials OK $1B in LIP funding, down from $2.2B.
TALLAHASSEE — The leader of the Florida House on Friday called the Obama administration’s approval of $1 billion in supplemental aid to state hospitals “significant” funding.
House Speaker Steve Crisafulli, R-Merritt Is- land, didn’t comment on how the low-income pool (LIP) money would shape the upcoming special session called to craft a state budget and debate health financing.
But he showed no signs of wavering in his opposition to a privatized form of Medicaid expansion sought by his fellow Republicans in the state Senate.
“From the beginning, the House has maintained the Legislature could craft a responsible budget while Gov. Scott’s administration negotiated with CMS (Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services) over the future of LIP, and that LIP should not be tied to the Medicaid expansion debate,” Crisafulli said.
The two-month legislative session ended in a House-Senate standoff May 1 after Crisafulli allied with Gov. Rick Scott in fighting the Senate’s Florida Health Insurance Exchange (FHIX). The exchange is intended to help hospitals ease the impact of losing LIP dollars by providing insurance coverage to 800,000 low-income Floridians.
Federal officials said Thursday they would support a $1 billion LIP program for Florida this year — down from the current, $2.2 billion program. Officials said one of their “principles” is promoting health coverage for patients rather than just paying hospitals for providing indigent care through such programs as the LIP.
Senate President Andy Gardiner, R-Orlando, said Thursday that the reduced LIP dollars underscore the need for Florida to have a “long-term solution,” such as FHIX.
Scott hasn’t comment- ed on federal government’s recalculated hospital funding.
Crisafulli added, “While we are still evaluating the effect of the new LIP funding level, this progress will greatly help the House and Senate finalize allocations and pass a balanced budget that meets the needs of Floridians during the upcoming special session in June.”