Rick Scott: Florida Won’t Implement Optional Portions of Obamacare
Florida will join other states in opting out of the Medicaid expansion in the Affordable Care Act and won't set up insurance exchanges, Gov. Rick Scott announced Sunday.
Scott also declared that if the Affordable Care Act, also known as Obamacare, is not repealed before Jan 1, 2014 -- which most likely would require the GOP to capture the U.S. Senate and White House this November -- Florida would comply with only the required sections of the Act.
In upholding the Act last week, the nation's top court ruled all individuals must buy insurance or pay a penalty starting in 2014 and in favor of the massive expansion of Medicaid, the state-federal insurance program for the poor. But the court added that the White House couldn’t threaten to withhold funding for states that opt out of the expansion.
A release from the governor’s office on Sunday noted that Scott -- after reviewing the U.S. Supreme Court ruling released Thursday on the Act – decided “two major provisions in the law are inconsistent with his mission to grow jobs for Floridians, make sure there is adequate funding for education, and to keep the cost of living as low as possible.
“Floridians are interested in jobs and economic growth, a quality education for their children, and keeping the cost of living low,” Scott stated in the release. “Neither of these major provisions in Obamacare will achieve those goals, and since Florida is legally allowed to opt out, that’s the right decision for our citizens.”
The statement notes that “even though the federal government has promised to initially pay 100 percent of the increase in Medicaid payments for the first three years of Obamacare, the burden increasingly shifts to Florida taxpayers in future years.”
“The real problem with health care is that costs continue to rise. That’s why I believe we need more choice for patients, more free-market competition, increased accountability for providers, and incentives for personal responsibility,” Scott stated in the release. “These are the things we can do that will hold down health-care costs and make it affordable for more people. Unfortunately, Obamacare doesn’t do any of those things. In Florida, we are focused on becoming the No. 1 place for businesses so that Floridians have more jobs.”
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9:13PM JUL 2ND 2012
I thought it interesting what others have to say about some of Scott's statements above related to "free-market competition" solutions:
“Governor Scott’s defiance renders him incapable of recognizing that health insurance exchanges authorized under the Affordable Care Act embrace free-market principles and promote personal responsibility by allowing consumers to comparison shop in purchasing health coverage” [Incoming House Democratic Leader Perry Thurston of Plantation]
Interesting also, is the fact that since the Supreme Court ruling, the American Medical Association, American Heart Association and American Cancer Society all vigorously support the Affordable Care Act.
Of course, medical professionals can't possibly know more about medical patient care than partisan politicians, now can they?
Here's their support:
AMERICAN MEDICAL ASSOCIATION
AMA "has long supported health insurance coverage for all, and we are pleased that this decision means millions of Americans can look forward to the coverage they need to get healthy and stay healthy.
"This decision protects important improvements, such as ending coverage denials due to pre-existing conditions and lifetime caps on insurance, and allowing the 2.5 million young adults up to age 26 who gained coverage under the law to stay on their parents' health insurance policies." "The expanded health care coverage upheld by the Supreme Court will allow patients to see their doctors earlier rather than waiting for treatment until they are sicker and care is more expensive. The decision upholds funding for important research on the effectiveness of drugs and treatments and protects expanded coverage for prevention and wellness care, which has already benefited about 54 million Americans."
AMERICAN HEART ASSOCIATION
The court's decision "will benefit America's heart health for decades to come. Questions about the Affordable Care Act's constitutionality have overshadowed the law's progress. With this ruling, that uncertainty has finally been put to rest.
"By upholding the law, the nation's highest court has sent a clear message that patients should be the first priority in an ever-changing health care arena. The court's action in support of the ACA helps remind us what's really important -- enabling all Americans to obtain affordable, quality health care."
AMERICAN CANCER SOCIETY
The Supreme Court decision is "a victory for people with cancer and their families nationwide, who for decades have been denied health coverage, charged far more than they can afford for lifesaving care and forced to spend their life savings on necessary treatment, simply because they have a pre-existing condition."
“Governor Scott’s defiance renders him incapable of recognizing that health insurance exchanges authorized under the Affordable Care Act embrace free-market principles and promote personal responsibility by allowing consumers to comparison shop in purchasing health coverage” [Incoming House Democratic Leader Perry Thurston of Plantation]
Interesting also, is the fact that since the Supreme Court ruling, the American Medical Association, American Heart Association and American Cancer Society all vigorously support the Affordable Care Act.
Of course, medical professionals can't possibly know more about medical patient care than partisan politicians, now can they?
Here's their support:
AMERICAN MEDICAL ASSOCIATION
AMA "has long supported health insurance coverage for all, and we are pleased that this decision means millions of Americans can look forward to the coverage they need to get healthy and stay healthy.
"This decision protects important improvements, such as ending coverage denials due to pre-existing conditions and lifetime caps on insurance, and allowing the 2.5 million young adults up to age 26 who gained coverage under the law to stay on their parents' health insurance policies." "The expanded health care coverage upheld by the Supreme Court will allow patients to see their doctors earlier rather than waiting for treatment until they are sicker and care is more expensive. The decision upholds funding for important research on the effectiveness of drugs and treatments and protects expanded coverage for prevention and wellness care, which has already benefited about 54 million Americans."
AMERICAN HEART ASSOCIATION
The court's decision "will benefit America's heart health for decades to come. Questions about the Affordable Care Act's constitutionality have overshadowed the law's progress. With this ruling, that uncertainty has finally been put to rest.
"By upholding the law, the nation's highest court has sent a clear message that patients should be the first priority in an ever-changing health care arena. The court's action in support of the ACA helps remind us what's really important -- enabling all Americans to obtain affordable, quality health care."
AMERICAN CANCER SOCIETY
The Supreme Court decision is "a victory for people with cancer and their families nationwide, who for decades have been denied health coverage, charged far more than they can afford for lifesaving care and forced to spend their life savings on necessary treatment, simply because they have a pre-existing condition."
9:05AM JUL 2ND 2012
A Tea Party Coalition, Working for Individual Freedom
FL ALLIANCE THANKS GOVERNOR SCOTT
On Friday, June 29, Florida Governor Rick Scott announced he will not move forward in implementing the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act in Florida.
We, the undersigned grassroots leaders of the Florida Alliance, thank the Governor for protecting the citizens of Florida against the massive tax increases inherent in this legislation.
The Governor has exhibited great courage in standing up to the Federal Government's massive intrusion into the lives of the citizens of the State of Florida.
Well done Governor Scott!
Paula Helton, Gainesville Tea Party
Billie Tucker, Big Voices Media
Jason Hoyt, Liberty Restoration Foundation
Tim Curtis, Tampa 912 Project
Jesse Phillips, Restore Justice
Clyde Fabretti, West Orlando Tea Party
Elaine Laffey, Ft. Lauderdale Tea Party
Carole MCManus, First Coast Tea Party
David McKalip, M.D., Doctor Patient Medical Association
Karin Hoffman, DC Works For Us
Leanne King, First Coast Tea Party
Don Forward, Titusville Patriots
Pete Franco, South Pinellas 912
Marian Rowe, Brevard 912
Pat Wayman, Venice 912 Project
Paula Schaff, Punta Gorda Tea Party
Kathy Gibson, Eastern Orlando Tea Party
Sid VanLandingham, South Lake 912 Tea Party
Tina Woode, Seminole 912 Project
Sharon Calvert, Tampa Tea Party
Maureen Arrigale, Nature Coast 912 Groups
RoseAnn Bright, Nature Coast 912 Groups
Nancy Meinhardt, Miami 912 Project
Barb Haselden, Organizer, South Pinellas 912
Peter Lee, East Side Tea Party
Marty Hughes, American Citizen League
Stacy Snow Feiler, Tampa Tea Party
FL ALLIANCE THANKS GOVERNOR SCOTT
On Friday, June 29, Florida Governor Rick Scott announced he will not move forward in implementing the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act in Florida.
We, the undersigned grassroots leaders of the Florida Alliance, thank the Governor for protecting the citizens of Florida against the massive tax increases inherent in this legislation.
The Governor has exhibited great courage in standing up to the Federal Government's massive intrusion into the lives of the citizens of the State of Florida.
Well done Governor Scott!
Paula Helton, Gainesville Tea Party
Billie Tucker, Big Voices Media
Jason Hoyt, Liberty Restoration Foundation
Tim Curtis, Tampa 912 Project
Jesse Phillips, Restore Justice
Clyde Fabretti, West Orlando Tea Party
Elaine Laffey, Ft. Lauderdale Tea Party
Carole MCManus, First Coast Tea Party
David McKalip, M.D., Doctor Patient Medical Association
Karin Hoffman, DC Works For Us
Leanne King, First Coast Tea Party
Don Forward, Titusville Patriots
Pete Franco, South Pinellas 912
Marian Rowe, Brevard 912
Pat Wayman, Venice 912 Project
Paula Schaff, Punta Gorda Tea Party
Kathy Gibson, Eastern Orlando Tea Party
Sid VanLandingham, South Lake 912 Tea Party
Tina Woode, Seminole 912 Project
Sharon Calvert, Tampa Tea Party
Maureen Arrigale, Nature Coast 912 Groups
RoseAnn Bright, Nature Coast 912 Groups
Nancy Meinhardt, Miami 912 Project
Barb Haselden, Organizer, South Pinellas 912
Peter Lee, East Side Tea Party
Marty Hughes, American Citizen League
Stacy Snow Feiler, Tampa Tea Party
3:15PM JUL 2ND 2012
Yes, drive up medical costs by forcing the medicaid patients that would have been covered by expanded coverage to obtain medical care in emergency rooms.
Yes, well done, Rick Scott - way to guarantee our medical costs will continue to rise in Florida due to emergency room care.
And oh, you Tea Party types - please realize he DIDN'T say "he will not move forward in implementing the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act in Florida" in total. He only indicated he wouldn't implement the optional portions of the Act, such as expanded Medicaid.
The law's still the law, and neither you nor he can nullify a federal law.
Yes, well done, Rick Scott - way to guarantee our medical costs will continue to rise in Florida due to emergency room care.
And oh, you Tea Party types - please realize he DIDN'T say "he will not move forward in implementing the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act in Florida" in total. He only indicated he wouldn't implement the optional portions of the Act, such as expanded Medicaid.
The law's still the law, and neither you nor he can nullify a federal law.
5:36PM JUL 3RD 2012
P.S. - The Tea Party members listed are also tainted by racism for including one doctor on the list who has been directly involved with a racist email sent to President Obama showing the President dressed as a Papua New Guinean witch doctor with a loin cloth and a bone through his nose above a logo saying "Obama Care".
If that's the type of company you Tea Party types want to keep, don't expect the rest of us to listen to anything you have to say about your political policy concerns. We don't tolerate or listen to known racists, or those who would keep company with them.
If that's the type of company you Tea Party types want to keep, don't expect the rest of us to listen to anything you have to say about your political policy concerns. We don't tolerate or listen to known racists, or those who would keep company with them.
