Health care dilemma continues in Florida Legislature

Without expansion of Medicaid, money could go away

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Florida lawmakers are doing battle over providing health care to a million working poor Floridians, and not expanding health care with federal money could end up increasing health insurance costs for everyone with insurance.

Florida currently gets $1.2 billion in federal money to pay for emergency room visits and hospital care for people who can't pay. It's called the low-income pool, or LIP.

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The feds told lawmakers last year that without an expansion of Medicaid, part of the president's plan, the money would go away.

U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson was in the state Capitol telling lawmakers the feds aren't blinking.

"The federal government will not renew LIP as it is now, because they told them over a year ago that its not going to continue," Nelson said.

The state Senate has a plan -- the House doesn't. Kim Williams, of A Healthy Florida Works, said it is time for the House to get off the dime or everyone is going to pay higher insurance.

"When you bring down the uncompensated care, you take away the need to raise the rates on private insurance holders in Florida, like ME as a business owner and like my employees, who pay a part of their insurance coverage," Williams said.

Joe Negron is the point man for the Senate. Publicly, he is optimistic.

So far the governor has been mum on any Medicaid expansion. But House leaders are sticking to their guns.

"You know, we have another whole month. Anything could happen," said Rep. Tom Goodson.

"So there is room for negotiation?" asked reporter Mike Vasilinda.

"I didn't say that. I said anything could happen," Goodson said.

While bridging the health care gap is possible, it's looking more and more like it won't happen before May 1, when lawmakers are set to go home.

Without a budget, legislators will have to go into special session at a cost of $65,000 a day.