November 16, 2012
Florida could save up to $100 million a year if it implements a new expansion of the joint state-federal Medicaid program for low-income residents, according to a new report.
The paper, from the Health Policy Institute at Georgetown University, said any costs to the state for expanding Medicaid under the terms of the 2010 federal health-care act would likely be offset by savings in other programs.
“The bottom line for Florida is that the state should incur no net costs for taking up the optional extension of Medicaid coverage even after accounting for the state covering more people who are currently eligible but not enrolled,” the report said.
It also said the health-care law could lead to between 815,000 and nearly 1.3 million Floridians gaining coverage from Medicaid, in large part because adults who make up to 133 percent of the federal poverty level would be covered. States can choose whether to participate in the expansion.
The study was commissioned by theJessie Ball duPont Fund and the Winter Park Health Foundation.
Lawmakers have been cautious about taking on the expansion, even though the federal government would pick up the cost until 2016 and at least 90 percent of the cost after that, because of concerns about the potential expense.