Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

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 […]

Staff ReportsApril 21, 2015

According to a new poll released by the Kaiser Family Foundation, more Americans like President Barack Obama‘s signature health care legislation than dislike it. By a narrow margin — 43 percent in favor versus 42 against, with the margin undecided or unsure — a plurality of U.S. citizens say they view the law favorably for the first […]

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 15, 2015

Six Republicans in Florida’s congressional delegation sent a letter to the acing director of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services on April 14 saying that supplemental Medicaid funding should not be held “hostage” for a statewide expansion of Medicaid. The letter — singed by US Senator Marco Rubio and Congressman Gus Bilirakis, Congressman Curt […]

Christine Jordan SextonApril 15, 2015

The session-long drama over health care and Medicaid expansion may peak today when a Senate panel considers the confirmation of Liz Dudek, the head of the agency that oversees Medicaid. Dudek rolled through a previous committee stop, but a flurry of finger-pointing regarding negotiations between the federal government and the state over the last two […]

Christine Jordan SextonApril 14, 2015

The federal government on Tuesday sent a letter Deputy Medicaid Director Justin Senior saying that expanding Medicaid to low income uninsured Floridians is a better use of tax dollars than establishing Medicaid supplemental spending formulas such as the Low Income Pool. Department of Health and Human Services Acting Director Vikki Wachino said in the letter […]

Christine Jordan SextonApril 14, 2015

Senate President Andy Gardiner made an appearance at the A Healthy Florida Works press conference on Tuesday, joining a group of business leaders supporting his chamber’s plan to draw down Medicaid dollars and provide access to health care for as many as 800,000 uninsured Floridians. With less than three weeks left in the 2015 regular […]

Christine Jordan SextonApril 9, 2015

Senate Appropriations Chairman Tom Lee said Thursday night he’s beginning to plan how to bring the 2o15 Session in for a landing if lawmakers can’t resolve the budget impasse between the House and Senate. Lee said the chambers must reach an accord by “the middle of next week or thereabouts and then we are out […]

Daniel TilsonApril 9, 2015

Sometimes, it’s painful being right. You see, Gov. Scott this week publicly confirmed he’s opposed to ensuring affordable access to health insurance and healthcare for all Floridians. Again. With ultra-conservative Republicans in the Florida House still blocking the Senate from using Obamacare funding to insure more than 800,000 Floridians — thereby stopping 3-6 people from […]

Christine Jordan SextonApril 8, 2015

The Florida Senate isn’t going to play games with Gov. Rick Scott’s executive appointments in the wake of the Medicaid meltdown that is occurring in Tallahassee. Senate President Andy Gardiner on Wednesday told reporters that he holds Agency for Health Care Administration Secretary Liz Dudek in high regard and doesn’t see her nomination to run […]

Tag: obamacare

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

For first time since 2012 majority of Americans support Affordable Care Act, says Kaiser poll

Rick Scott says he’s suing feds over Medicaid expansion

Congressional Republicans send letter to to Feds: Don’t hold LIP hostage

Florida’s health care chief on hot seat as Senate considers her confirmation

Feds to Florida: Medicaid expansion is better use of tax dollars

Andy Gardiner: Senate will talk Medicaid, health care with “anybody at any time”

Tom Lee says he’s planning how to bring bumpy Session in for a landing

Daniel Tilson: Don't get fooled again by Rick Scott's trick plays on health reform

Andy Gardiner says Senate won’t play games with executive appointments