Lawmakers forgo large-scale Medicaid expansion in Florida

One of the most populous states in the Unites States is close to passing on expanding Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act, Health News Florida has reported. The Florida House of Representatives voted mostly along party lines late last week to support a state-run plan that would enroll only 115,000 low-income residents--mostly disabled adults and parents of children--into the Medicaid program, primarily through high-deductible health plans. As a result, it has turned down tens of billions of dollars to expand Medicaid coverage to far more Floridians.

"There's very little you can buy," Rep. Mia Jones (D-Jacksonville) told the Associated Press. "This population will not be able to take this product that has been crafted for them and not be able to do anything of value with it." Although Florida House Speaker Will Weatherford said there is still time to craft a new bill to expand the Medicaid program, the legislative session ends on Friday.