Florida leads nation in turning down Medicaid money. Dubious distinction, but makes Rick proud.

[madfloridian]

Florida leads nation in turning down Medicaid money

TALLAHASSEE – Florida is No. 1 again.

But state officials may not be accepting many accolades for this latest distinction. Florida leads the nation in turning down Medicaid funding from the federal government, according to a new report from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and the Urban Institute.

By refusing to expand Medicaid under the federal Affordable Care Act, Florida will lose out on $66.1 billion in federal funding over the next decade. Florida even edges out Texas, which comes in at a close second with $65.6 billion in lost federal funding.

It also means in 2016 some 1.1 million Floridians will go without health insurance who otherwise could be covered by Medicaid, the federal-state health care program for the poor and disabled. Texas holds the lead there with an estimated 1.5 million uninsured residents, according to the report.

Florida and Texas are the biggest players among the 24 states that have decided not to use the option under the federal health care law to expand Medicaid to residents earning up to 138 percent of the federal poverty level. Most of the states are led by Republicans who have been vocal critics of the ACA, otherwise known as Obamacare.

Further in the article it points out that Ricky agreed in 2013 to accept the funds but only if the government paid the full amount. Legislators did not agree apparently, and the 2014 session showed nothing had been done about it.

[BaggersRDumb]

1. He is lucky I am not in charge, he would be on trial for murder.

[Thinkingabout]

2. Hey, the old OOPS Rick in Texas is wasting $5 to $12 million a month on National Guard

On the border but don't give a damn about the health care Texans could receive at no cost to the state. The governors doesn't make sense, Texas prides health care facilities as the best but falls short on getting citizens insured.

[RagAss]

3. Innocent blood on his fucking hands.