Posted on 11/19/2012 10:38:04 PM PST by nickcarraway
What a difference an election can make.
Just a week after the re-election of Barack Obama ended all Republican hopes of overturning the new health care law known as " Obamacare," Gov. Rick Scott and other Florida leaders who have steadfastly rejected the idea are now willing to at least talk about implementing it for the state's 3.8 million uninsured.
" Mitt Romney did not win the election," Scott told reporters Friday in Washington D.C., hours before he released a letter to Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius asking for a meeting to discuss implementing the law. "So it's not an option to repeal Obamacare. So my goal now is: focus on what's good for our citizens."
He added: "The official response is going to be: 'I want to sit down with you. I want to see how we can work together to lower health care costs for Floridians.'" But it will be some time before Florida decides on how to implement crucial elements of the Affordable Care Act: setting up an insurance "exchange" and adding lower-income Floridians to the Medicaid program. Incoming House Speaker Will Weatherford and Senate President Don Gaetz wrote Sebelius Thursday night saying they could not yet make a call on whether to start an exchange — essentially, a state-run health insurance marketplace for small businesses and individuals.
The law says that if a state refuses to set up an exchange, the federal government will do it. So far, 13 states — mostly Democratic — and the District of Columbia have officially said they will run their own exchanges. Weatherford and Gaetz wrote that 100 rules and regulations are still being developed by the Obama administration, including guidelines on minimum coverage and benefits. And in his letter Friday, Scott said startup costs "are projected at $92.3 million" through next year, and annual operating costs to the state – based on experience in Illinois -- could range from $57.4 million to $88.6 million by 2016.
"We should be looking out for our consumers and we should be looking out for our state and doing what's best for them," said Weatherford, R-Wesley Chapel. "The problem is there are hundreds of unanswered questions that are out there with regard to the implementation to the Affordable Health Care Act. Until we have the answers to those questions, we don't know which plan gives our consumers the most choices."
Insurers are researching and trying to develop plans that work with the new requirements, but they too have a lot of questions, said Michael Garner, executive director of the Florida Association of Health Plans, a trade association for health insurers. They haven't even figured out if it's better for the federal government or the state to run the exchanges, or some sort of partnership.
"Until we get more information, it's too difficult to stipulate which direction is best," Garner said. The federal government counters that states have been offered help in getting the process started, and the deadline to decide on who should run the exchange has been extended from last week to Dec. 14. HHS has provided a blueprint of what a state exchange should look like and offered grants to pay design costs. Florida applied for the money in 2010 under Gov. Charlie Crist, but Scott ordered the state to return the $1 million check. The exchanges are a crucial key to the health care overhaul, which by 2014 will require all adults to either purchase health insurance, enroll in a federally subsidized plan — or pay a tax.
Large employers will be required to provide health coverage to employees or pay a fine. Smaller companies, of up to 100 employees, and individuals not covered by an employer would find insurance using the exchange, and lower-income purchasers would qualify for federal subsidies. Plans offered by the exchanges would provide a minimum level of benefits, with limited co-payments and out-of-pocket expenses.
The exchanges must begin enrolling users by October 2013 and be fully operational by Jan. 1, 2014.
Both Weatherford and Gaetz have said they want the Legislature to decide whether the state or federal government should run the insurance exchange, and whether Florida should expand its Medicaid program to cover an estimated 800,000 to 1.3 million low-income individuals who currently earn too much to qualify. In upholding the law in June, the U.S. Supreme Court said states could not be compelled to expand Medicaid eligibility.
Though the feds will pay 100 percent of the cost of the new enrollees, that will drop to 90 percent by 2020. Scott has said the state can't afford the expansion of Medicaid, which state analysts have pegged at about $1 billion but which Scott insists is likely to be higher. Scott also is seeking federal approval to put the state's existing Medicaid patients into managed care — like HMOs — under a cost-cutting proposal passed by the 2011 Legislature. "Statewide Medicaid managed care is one way we can act immediately to encourage more competition.
The communist/dictatorial state comes after Obamacare. Communists don’t even have the social programs we have implemented in this country.
Follow the money, always follow the money. The American Hospital Association is for the ACA. Scott ran a hospital company. Therefore Scott must be for the ACA. Simple logic. Why should anyone be surprised?
The only way Obamacare will lower medical costs is by imposing rates.
Meanwhile college aid only pushes up the price of higher education at universities with multibillion dollar endowments.
Yes, I know the talking point. Unfortunately this is not true. It is an insurance co exchange. The subsidies have passed already.
not counting the startup costs the annual cost average is $74 million. For that money you could provide insurance to 12,000 people for about $500/month. A family of 5 only pays about $1200-1400/month for a top rated plan.
At $250/month/pp you’d give the same policy to 24,000 people. Wouldn’t it just be easier to fix the regulatory side without spending any money at all?
Why is the solution getting insurance, instead of increasing competition and access while lowering prices? We’re looking at the wrong end of the elephant.
Can I add on to your question, please?
I understood that if the states set up the exchanges - the Federal govt will be in charge of them anyway - not the states. Is that true?
The states would have guidelines but they are in charge if they set them up
The ruling elite are confirming that liberty can be trumped by a clamoring mob.
Fine, let the chattering mobs have their way. Institute a class action suit that requires ALL follow 0care, including politicians and unions. What’s good for the goose is good for the gander.
Just like the Jews co-opted by the Nazis were in charge. They got on the railroad cars along with the other Jews.
Whatever happened to the plan to take over the house and defund obamacare? Oh, I remember. That went away just like “fixing the GOP from the inside” went away.
I am trying to have a conversation and learn but when you invoke the whole holocaust thing into a conversation you devoid yourself of reality. So you have a nice day.
I have just seen the HHS guidelines if you would like to have a serious conversation I will be happy to respond.
They seem to be failing in Greece.
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