Summary January 8, 2013 WashingtonUpdate from the National Association of Health Underwriters
Dept of Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius sat down with Florida Governor Rick Scott to discuss PPACA. Scott has been an opponent of PPACA, but there has been some post-meeting speculation thatFloridamay agree to implement some aspects of the health reform law.
Scott’s main opposition to PPACA is cost-related, specifically the cost of the Medicaid expansion and costs associated with state run exchanges. He is the only GOP governor that has had a meeting with a top Obama official in an attempt to find a common ground in terms of health reform implementation. During the meeting, Sebelius encouraged Scott to work with the federal government in a partnership exchange and to expand Medicaid, given thatFloridacurrently has the third highest rate of uninsured in the country.
After the meeting, Scott said that he needs more information about t he law and what impact it will have onFloridafamilies. While health reform inFloridais still unclear, the bi-partisan effort made by Scott and Secretary Sebelius is certainly a great way to kick off 2013!