Rick Scott Under Fire For Inflating Cost Of Health Law’s Medicaid Expansion

[DonViejo]

SAHIL KAPUR JANUARY 10, 2013, 5:51 AM

Florida’s Republican Gov. Rick Scott has rejected the Medicaid expansion under the Affordable Care Act. And now he’s in hot water for apparently inflating the cost of the expansion to Floridians in order to justify his decision.

The website Health News Florida reported Tuesday that Scott was warned in letters by the state legislature’s top economist and budget analyst that his administration’s figure — that the expansion would cost the state $26 billion over 10 years — was false.

Scott’s aide reportedly said, in emails obtained by HNF, that the figure was based on the assumption that the federal government — which is tasked with paying for the vast majority of each state’s Medicaid expansion for the first decade — would not fulfill its promise.

But after the report was published and caused a stir, including scathing criticism from Rep. Kathy Castor (D-FL), Scott said through a spokeswoman that his Agency for Health Care Administration would consider alternate cost estimates.

-snip-

http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2013/01/rick-scott-medicaid-cost-controversy.php?ref=fpnewsfeed

[Scuba]

1. If Scott said it, it's almost certainly a lie.

[blueclown]

2. He would "consider alternate cost estimates".

How about the only cost estimate? The federal government is giving his state a huge gift, and for him not to reflect that in the cost to his state is just stunningly dishonest, and not worthy of a public servant.

[SugarShack]

3. Going over the numbers the fact checkers now say it's 3 Billion over 10 yrs...not 26 Billion

But Prick Scott knew that. There is just not enough going through the pipeline this way, for him and his cronies to steal, ala the 4 billion in Medicare he tooK!

[Sunlei]

4. No wonder the state of florida claims they are broke, your Republican liars squander states money

[csziggy]

5. They don't squander our money - they outright STEAL it!

Anything pRick Scott is involved with is likely a criminal enterprise.

[Cha]

6. Now there's a crook who saw no reason to change just

because he's the gov of Florida.