During a special session in the Florida Legislature, the state’s House of Representatives voted down a proposal last week that would have expanded the state’s Medicaid program.
The state Senate overwhelmingly passed the plan just days prior.
The issue created a sharp divide between the chamber’s Democrats and Republicans.
Republicans, rebuking the president’s health care law, argued the plan would further expand the Affordable Care Act.
The measure, called the Florida Health Insurance Affordability Exchange (FHIX), would have expanded the number of low-income Floridians eligible for Medicaid. Using $18 billion over a decade, recipients would’ve been able to purchase health insurance from private providers.
State officials say the plan would have covered approximately 650,000 Florida residents.
Though the proposal would have provided low-income Floridians with access to private health coverage, Republicans in the state legislature argued it was a form of Medicaid expansion under Obamacare and would increase the deficit.
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“I may be a simple country lawyer, but I know an entitlement when I see one, and FHIX is simply Obamacare Medicaid expansion with a clever name,” Republican Rep. John Wood said. “An entitlement program is defined as a government program providing benefits to members of a specific group, and FHIX fits all of the criteria.”
Gov. Rick Scott, a Republican, also opposed the Florida Health Insurance Affordability Exchange.
While Republicans argued the plan could cost taxpayers billions, especially if more than the projected number of Floridians sign up for the program, Democrats argued not expanding Medicaid could hurt hundreds of thousands of residents.
“Simply voting no, no, no because Obamacare has the name Obama in it is not a way to govern,” Democratic Rep. José Javier Rodriguez said. “There are real human beings that all of us represent that are in this coverage gap and have health care needs that go unmet.”
According to Kaiser Family Foundation, 30 states, including the District of Columbia, have expanded Medicaid under Obamacare. Nineteen, including Florida, opted not to expand the program, and officials in two states are discussing Medicaid expansion.
