Gov. Rick Scott and Republican lawmakers seem determined to deny uninsured Floridians health care coverage with the state’s challenge to the Affordable Care Act on the one hand and concerted efforts to halt implementation, on the other, although it remains federal law. With or without the implementation of the new health reform act however, a new report released today by the Collins Center for Public Policy, states that the more than 4 million uninsured Floridians are placing a financial strain on the state’s health-care system and there is need to prepare for changes to help improve the quality of health care, as well as, reduce cost.
The report, “Making the Investment Work: Important Benefits and Key Challenges in Implementing Health Reform in Florida” by the Collins Center for Public Policy, an independent and nonpartisian Think Tank established in 1988, argues that the new law presents opportunities for the state to enhance the availability of medical care to millions of Floridians and examines how the law would affect businesses, large and small. The report also discusses how the state and health care industry should prepare for its possible implementation.
Among the report’s conclusions are:
- The number of uninsured Floridians — currently about 4 million — will continue to rise without reform.
- Between 1 million and 1.4 million people would be newly enrolled in Medicaid under the new law. Another 700,000 to 1.1 million uninsured Floridians would gain coverage through an exchange comprised of private insurers.
- Expanding Medicaid would involve new state expenditures estimated at between $1.2 billion to $2.5 billion from 2014 to 2019. Each of those state dollars invested would bring at least 10 federal dollars.
- Florida would need more physicians, nurses and other care providers to meet the increased patient demand.
- Florida taxpayers with annual incomes of $250,000 for families and $200,000 for individuals would experience higher federal income taxes.
- Middle-class Floridians with incomes up to four times the federal poverty level (roughly $88,000 for a family of four) would receive federally financed subsidies.
- Many health care providers and insurers would be assessed new fees to help finance the subsidized coverage for lower- and middle-income residents.
- Medicare enrollees would see the “doughnut hole” gap in their prescription coverage close over the course of the next decade.
The report ends with an action plan for Florida to maximize the potential benefits.
“The bottom line is that with or without this health care reform act, Florida must make some critical decisions about how to improve the health of its residents, recognizing that the status quo is simply not an option anymore,” said Dr. Leda Perez, Vice President of Health Initiatives for the Collins Center. “We hope this report will provide state leaders with some viable options for how to reduce costs and improve the quality of care rendered.”
