Modern Healthcare interviewed Manatt's Deborah Bachrach, a partner in the firm's Healthcare practice, for an article on Florida Gov. Rick Scott's absolute opposition to expanding Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act.
Modern Healthcare reports that hospital leaders and other supporters of Medicaid expansion argue that expanding is a good deal for Florida because the federal government pays 100% of the cost for covering the newly eligible beneficiaries through 2016, with that contribution phasing down to 90% by 2020. Scott said that a major reason he opposes Medicaid expansion is that he is concerned the federal government can't be relied on to continue funding for the Florida Medicaid expansion population.
It would take an act of Congress to change that mandatory federal contribution level, noted Bachrach.
Read the article here.