Today I had the pleasure of joining the League of Women Voters of Florida and Florida Legal Services on a conference call to discuss a topic of utmost importance – the decision facing Florida’s policy makers as to whether or not to expand Medicaid – especially in light of the scheduled expiration of Florida’s Low Income Pool. Joining me on the call was Charlotte Cassel of Florida Legal Services who has released a series of reports on how scheduled cuts to Florida’s Low Income Pool will impact various regions of the state. LWVF President Deirdre Macnab moderated the call.

Here’s what I said:

“The question of whether or not to expand Medicaid continues to be one of the most important public policy questions that state policymakers face. And nowhere is this more true than in Florida, which ranks 50th in the country for percent of uninsured adults at just under 29% in 2013. Only Texas ranks lower. Expanding Medicaid in Florida could result in a new path to coverage for approximately one million Floridians. As we speak today, Florida is giving up $10 million in federal funds every single day this year because lawmakers have rejected the money. In 2014 the state gave up over $3 billion in federal funding.

The stakes are even higher for Florida, because not only is Florida a large state with so many uninsured people, but Florida has a unique arrangement with the federal government with respect to its hospital financing through what is called the Low Income Pool. This special arrangement is ending on June 30th 2015 and is currently being renegotiated with the federal government. I won’t say more about this now as Charlotte’s paper speaks to this issue in depth but am happy to take questions later about where I think these negotiations will lead.

Earlier this week, Governor Pence of Indiana announced his plans to go forward with expansion becoming the 29th state – including the District of Columbia – to do so. Indiana’s decision to go forward reflects a steady drumbeat of Republican governors and legislators who realize that expanding Medicaid is the smart choice. Next week the Tennessee Legislature will hold a special session called by the Governor to consider his unique proposal to expand Medicaid in that state. As Indiana and Tennessee demonstrate, Republican lawmakers are finding creative ways to expand Medicaid and the Obama Administration is very motivated to get to “yes” with them.

Those who continue to just say “no” to Medicaid expansion in my view are doing so for ideological reasons and in doing so are risking the viability of the health care safety net, turning away taxpayer dollars that could stimulate their economy, and most importantly turning their backs on their own constituents who desperately need health coverage.”