Senate has $600 million in reserves it can pump into health care, Andy Gardiner says

Senate President Andy Gardiner released a statement on Tuesday saying that the Senate may use $600 million available in reserves to fund health care programs in the 2015-16 fiscal year year budget.

In a statement, Gardiner said the $600 million could be used to draw down federal matching Medicaid dollars and used to offset a projected $1.5 billion in hospital losses if no Low Income Pool program was available. The money also could be used to help offset $200 million in losses that the Medicaid managed care plans that participate in the mandatory statewide Medicaid managed care program.

The news continues to put the Florida Senate on an opposite path of both Gov. Rick Scott and  the House of Representatives, which already have made clear that they won’t use state dollars to “backfill” any loss of federal health care funding.

The loss of Low Income Pool funding has derailed the 2015 regular legislative session and legislative leaders have acknowledged that the session won’t end on time. House Republicans on Tuesday held a closed door meeting “caucus” meeting where members discussed procedure and how the session should be brought in for a landing. Many Republican members refused to talk to the press which stood outside the closed door meeting.

The Senate has proposed expanding the Medicaid program under the Affordable Care Act under a plan called FHIX. Additionally, the Senate has proposed an alternative formula to draw down Medicaid supplemental funds, known as Low Income Pool. The House, on the other hand, has eliminated the Low Income Pool from statutes and, furthermore, has opposed any Medicaid expansion under the federal health care law, known as Obamacare.

“I hope Governor Scott and the Florida House will adopt our comprehensive solution, including FHIX and LIP, as Florida’s plan to address the health care challenges facing our state. If we can present a united approach, I am hopeful we can receive LIP funding this year and dedicate the $600 million we may need to backfill LIP to other priorities.”