Gov. Rick Scott said Tuesday he has not decided whether to sign a bill (HB 5301) that would force counties to send tens of millions of dollars in disputed Medicaid payments to the state.
But Scott said the Agency for Health Care Administration will start a county-by-county review to try to determine how much money local governments owe.
“I want to make sure that whether I sign the bill or don’t sign the bill, I don’t want counties to be paying bills that they don’t owe,” Scott said. “I don’t think that’s fair.”
Senate leaders contend counties have not fully paid required Medicaid amounts, but counties argue the billing system is riddled with problems.
Counties want Scott to veto HB 5301, but the decision also is complicated by other issues included in the legislation. For example, it includes a cost-saving move to limit the number of times Medicaid beneficiaries can visit emergency rooms each year. Also, it would allow children of low- and moderate-income state workers to enroll in the KidCare health-insurance program.
Scott faces a March 29 deadline to act on the bill.
