Florida slashes estimated cost of Medicaid expansion to $3 billion

[steve2470]

http://news.yahoo.com/florida-slashes-estimated-cost-medicaid-expansion-3-billion-202108120.html

TALLAHASSEE, Florida (Reuters) - In a dramatic about-face, Florida's health agency now says the cost to state taxpayers of expanding Medicaid under President Barack Obama's healthcare reform law would be barely more than a tenth of its original estimate.

Governor Rick Scott, a Republican who had fought hard against the reform law known as Obamacare, had complained on Monday that the optional expansion of Medicaid under Obamacare would cost Florida taxpayers $26 billion over the next decade, using the original estimate by the state's Agency for Health Care Administration. His comments followed closed-door talks with U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius.

But the state agency, which manages Florida's Medicaid program, issued a new study late on Wednesday that put the state's cost of expanding the government-run health insurance program for the poor at about $3 billion over 10 years.

Critics said Florida's previous estimate was grossly inflated and based on questionable assumptions. It ignored the federal government's commitment to pick up most of the cost of expanding Medicaid to cover more people in Florida.

*bolding mine*

Could it be Governor Voldemort lied through his ass ? Hmm.....

[nykym]

1. You don'r understand...

Yes, it's only 3 billion over ten years, but since I am so dishonest and have raided the Fed for years while running nursing home scams I just added 23 billion as my portion of the whole thing.

[freshwest]

2. Good for some sunshine there. Goodbye Voldemort, you won't be missed.

[Make7]

3. Oops! I got caught. ( n/t )

[okwmember]

4. I would have loved to have been a fly on the wall when he tried to use that BS

number in the meeting with Secretary Sebelius. She must have schooled his ass pretty good for a new estimate to be made public so quickly following their meeting.