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Christine Jordan SextonApril 23, 2015

With just one week left in the regular legislative session the House on Thursday offered to spend $200 million in general revenue to help fund hospitals in the absence of the federal Low Income Pool. “It is a proposal that is on their desk right now,” House Speaker Steve Crisafulli told reporters as he announced […]

Peter SchorschApril 23, 2015

As the 2015 legislative session winds down – and the state’s budget standoff heats up – money is on everyone’s mind. With that, the darkening prospects of the House and Senate settling differences over Medicaid expansion lead a casual (and maybe not so casual) observer to ask the obvious question. Why? Why is the Senate […]

Peter SchorschApril 23, 2015

As the 2015 legislative session winds down – and the state’s budget standoff heats up – money is on everyone’s mind. With that, the darkening prospects of the House and Senate settling differences over Medicaid expansion lead a casual (and maybe not so casual) observer to ask the obvious question. Why? Why is the Senate […]

Daniel TilsonApril 22, 2015

Gov. Scott finally got busy addressing big issues this week. Not serious, mind you, just busy. Lots of finger-pointing, no problem-solving With President Barack Obama visiting South Florida and using the Everglades as backdrop to observe Earth Day, Scott refused the White House’s invitation to participate. Why risk hearing any inflammatory words or phrases. Climate […]

Associated PressApril 21, 2015

Florida House leaders met behind closed doors Tuesday while Senate leaders held a special hearing in a last-ditch attempt to agree on Medicaid and finalize a budget as the need for a special session grew more imminent. Impassioned senators, including many Republicans, tried to put aside politics and put a human face on the bickering […]

Christine Jordan SextonApril 21, 2015

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 […]

Christine Jordan SextonApril 20, 2015

Gov. Rick Scott‘s administration is taking steps to try to win federal approval of a plan to draw down federal health funds after being criticized for not doing enough to ensure supplemental hospital funding will flow to the state. The Agency for Health Care Administration has scheduled two, two-hour meetings in Orlando and Miami April […]

Christine Jordan SextonApril 16, 2015

Florida Gov. Rick Scott said Thursday he will sue the federal government for “coercing” the state into expanding Medicaid under the federal health care law by withholding supplemental Medicaid funding known as Low Income Pool.. “It is appalling that President Obama would cut off federal healthcare dollars to Florida in an effort to force our […]

Christine Jordan SextonApril 16, 2015

Borrowing the governor’s often-used slogan “let’s get to work” House Democrats on Thursday said it’s time for House Republicans and Gov. Rick Scott to work on finding a solution to the impasse on health care that has brought the 2015 legislative session to a grinding halt. At an early morning press conference on Thursday House […]

Christine Jordan SextonApril 14, 2015

What started out smoothly a few months ago now appears to be falling apart as leading Republicans in the House and Senate began finger-pointing over a health care dispute that appears likely to derail the 2015 session. The latest evidence that the May 1 session will not end on time came after the Department of […]

Tag: Andy Gardiner
Aerial photo courtesy Jesse Biter.

House offers $200 million to Senate to revive budget talks

Peter Schorsch: In the deadlock over the state budget, follow the money

For some Florida Senators, healthcare budget standoff isn’t business, it’s personal

Daniel Tilson: In Rick Scott's Florida, if the flooding doesn't get you, lack of health insurance will

Special session seems imminent as Medicaid fight continues

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

Despite bluster, Rick Scott administration moves ahead with hospital plan

Rick Scott says he’s suing feds over Medicaid expansion

House Dems say “Let’s get to work” on Medicaid expansion

House, Senate, feds stick to guns on Medicaid as session slips away