Florida Medicaid Decision Should Weigh Costs, Benefits

Florida Medicaid Decision Should Weigh Costs, Benefits
Washington Should Consider New Ideas in Health Care Debate

(Miami, Fl) – As Florida leaders argue the merits of whether to expand the state’s Medicaid program to include more able-bodied, childless adults, elected officials must consider the risks of expanding a costly program that has historically done little to improve health outcomes, and which is supported by taxpayer dollars. The expansion of Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act (ACA, or Obamacare) is projected to cost taxpayers hundreds of billions of dollars in the years ahead – a cost that grows as more states agree to expand Medicaid. Some in Washington have argued that the growing federal Debt will force a reduction in the federal government’s share of Medicaid spending – potentially leading states to either cut benefits to recipients or to raise Taxes . While some in Florida have called for reforms to allow Medicaid recipients to access private health insurance, the federal government has not ratified such a change.

Daniel Garza, Executive Director of The LIBRE Initiative, released the following statement:

“The states and the federal government should be focused on how to ensure that families have access to quality medical care at competitive prices. Unfortunately, the White House seems committed to forcing more families to sign up for government-run care that costs taxpayers hundreds of billions and which has been shown to have poor health outcomes. Medicaid has been called a caste system that delivers inferior quality care to its participants. We can and should do better. Efforts to expand Medicaid are focused on spending more money and enlisting more participants, rather than ensuring the program is actually providing the quality care that is needed. Such expansion may actually have negative effects on the very people the program was intended to help – the neediest among us.

Obamacare isn’t working because it tries to impose a one-size-fits-all solution. Furthermore, supporters of the law try to pretend that billions in federal assistance can be delivered without Florida taxpayers bearing part of the cost – that’s simply not true. It’s far past time to consider new ideas to reform the reform, and to begin allowing states and other players to explore solutions that deliver on the broken promises of expanded choice, competitive costs, and quality care.”

For interviews with a LIBRE representative, please contact: Soledad Cedro 305 890 6727 or Brian Faughnan 703 678 4581.

###