So yesterday I listened to Rick Scott bitch about why he wouldn't expand medicaid for the state. Yeah, god forbid this son of a bitch actually does the right thing for Floridians for once.
I read a News 13 article to find out more. Here's one area of interest:
TALLAHASSEE (AP) --
Gov. Rick Scott reversed course Monday, saying he no longer supports Medicaid expansion as talks break down between Florida and its request for the federal government to extend funds to hospitals that serve low-income patients.
Scott wants the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services to give Florida about $1 billion in hospital funds, but the feds have been denying that request for about a year, standing firm that the funds will end June 30. Negotiations between state and federal health officials turned ugly in the past week, with the state accusing federal officials of walking away from discussions and sending a series of frenzied press statements warning that a key federal health official was going on vacation and talks had dissolved. Federal health officials have denied the claims and said they remain in contact with the state.
The hospital fund negotiations have spilled over to Medicaid because advocates say the hospitals wouldn't need as much federal funding if the state expanded Medicaid to 800,000 Floridians because the hospitals would have more paying customers. The federal government has offered to pay the entire Medicaid expansion bill for the first few years and then phase down its funding to 95 percent, but Scott and House Republicans are concerned officials won't make good on that promise.
Oh please. We all know this god damned slimeball won't do a damn thing for the state unless he and his friends can find a way to pocket the cash in the process. And speaking of which:
The Senate crafted a replacement program that it wants the federal government to consider that would take billions in federal funds so Medicaid recipients could purchase private insurance through vouchers. Senate leaders have said they will not vote for a budget if it requires large cuts to hospitals. But House Republicans, who are opposed to any expansion of Medicaid, have contended that the federal government could renew the hospital money without expanding Medicaid coverage.
That's right. A voucher program. Make no mistake, this isn't about what's best for Florida. This is about how much governor Blinky and his cronies can pocket before the shit really hits the fan. Budget cuts to hospitals? Yeah, right. Many hospitals around the state are already suffering because our know-nothing state government refuses to do anything besides 'cut taxes'.
Fuck you, Rick.