Christine Jordan Sexton
The letter writing surrounding Medicaid and Low Income Pool continues as ten Congressional Democrats sent a note to Gov. Rick Scott on Friday calling on him to drop his yet-to-be-filed lawsuit against the Obama Administration for coercing the state to expand Medicaid in order to continue to receive supplemental Medicaid funding for hospitals.
“We are concerned that you intend to take Florida down a wasteful and counterproductive path with a frivolous and baseless lawsuit against the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services while only two weeks remains in the Florida legislative session and the state budget still hangs in the balance,” the letter reads.
It was signed by Congresswomen Debbie Wasserman Schultz, Kathy Castor, Frederica Wilson, Lois Frankel, Gwen Graham and Corrine Brown. Congressmen Alcee Hastings, Alan Grayson, Ted Deutch, and Patrick Murphy also signed the letter.
The Congressional Democrats say the lawsuit will not bring budget negotiations in for a landing and it won’t help to give uninsured Floridians access to health care.
“No matter who resides in the White House, or whose name is attached to the health reform law, Medicaid expansion is right for Florida; right for our businesses, our hospitals, our families, and our most vulnerable neighbors. We urge you to put politics aside and work with the CMS to develop a plan that is right for Florida families and businesses.”
Scott announced on April 16 he was filing a lawsuit against the Obama Administration for “coercing” the state into expanding Medicaid statewide in order to continue to receive supplemental Low Income Pool dollars.
Attorney General Pam Bondi said she would join him in the suit. Appearing on Fox News last night Scott avoided answering when the suit would be filed.
This is the fourth letter this week to be sent on Medicaid and Low Income Pool funding. Department of Health and Human Services Acting Director Vikki Wachino sent a letter to the state earlier this week explaining the federal government explaining Medicaid access was a better use of taxpayer dollars than uncompensated care pools. The letter triggered a number of others including one from Congressional Republicans to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid, the agency in charge of negotiating the continuance of the Low Income Pool.
Scott’s press office did not immediately return phone calls seeking a comment.
