Rick Scott Wants Block Grants for Medicaid

[BLOG] By Kimberly Vlach -

Governor Rick Scott believes that he can be more effective in administering health care to low-income families in the form of federal block grants than the current system of Medicaid financing shared between state and federal governments, according to The Hill.

“You give me a block grant, let me do whatever I want, and I will cover the right people,” reports The Hill on Scott’s address of a National Governors Association’s meeting in Washington, D.C., Sunday morning.

“If I don’t, I won’t get re-elected.”

Gov. Rick Scott, Photo by Shealah Craighead at flgov.com

Those who share that opinion say that block grants give more flexibility on spending and decision-making on each individual state’s Medicaid situation.

Across the country, state governors on both sides of the aisle are struggling with budget shortfalls. In Florida, the deficit is estimated at $3.8 billion for 2011-12.

Earlier this month, Scott proposed a $3 billion cut to the state’s Medicaid program over the next 2 years. Currently, about three million people are enrolled in Florida’s Medicaid program, costing the state just over $20 billion for the year. The federal government’s match to Florida’s contribution stands at 55.5% this year.

But the governor’s plan to tighten eligibility could put at stake those federally matched funds.

Meanwhile, beginning Jan. 1, 2014, the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act will grant access to Medicaid to Americans who earn 133% or less than the federal poverty level. For an individual, that’s just over $14,000 in annual income and over $29,000 for a family of four.

States will receive 100% of federal funding in the first three years of this expansion.

This reporter can be reached at kvlach@wusf.org.