In a press conference today in St. Petersburg, the League of Women Voters will address the Florida Legislature’s refusal to expand Medicare as part of the federal Affordable Care Act.
Representatives of health and civic interests will join League leaders at 10:30 a.m. in North Straub Park. They will be there to make the financial and business case for the state to start accepting $51 billion in Medicaid expansion funds.
During the 2013 session, the Legislature categorically rejected the federal funding, despite Gov. Rick Scott reversing his position in February and coming out in favor of Medicaid expansion, at least for a preliminary period.
Scott now refers to Medicaid expansion as “common sense.”
Featured speakers include:
- Deirdre Macnab, President, League of Women Voters of Florida
- Chris Steinocher, President & CEO, St. Petersburg Area Chamber of Commerce
- Edward Briggs, President, Florida Nurses Association
- Dr. Manuel Sykes, President, NAACP St. Petersburg Chapter
- Dr. Lawrence Floriani, Deputy Director, Doctors for America
As the Oct. 1 rollout date approaches for enrollment in the nationwide healthcare marketplace, the League will call attention to lawmaker’s inability to come up with an alternative plan that will include as many as 1.2 million low-income uninsured Floridians.
According to the League, expanding Medicaid in the state would bring in nearly $51 billion in federal money over the next 10 years, as well as provide much-needed healthcare to Florida’s most vulnerable citizens. They also maintain the expansion will create over 120,000 new jobs.
In a statement released today, the League says now is the perfect time to shed light on the issue, since lawmakers have returned to Tallahassee for weeks of committee hearings.
The news conference will focus on healthcare and other industry experts; they will all be calling on Florida’s elected officials “to accept the federal money for the expansion promptly.”
