One of the most ardent resistors to the health reform law looks like it might be singing a slightly adjusted tune. Florida leaders have conceded that Obama's re-election means working with the federal government to find new solutions to improving healthcare.
Florida Gov. Rick Scott said he's now willing to negotiate with the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services. "The election is over and President Obama won," and Scott is now willing to "have a conversation" about implementing reform in Florida, he told the Associated Press.
He also recently admitted to The Palm Beach Post that "just saying no is not an answer" to the reform law.
Although Scott and other state Republican leaders are softening their reform stance, they still have reservations about the law, particularly regarding health insurance exchanges. Scott said he's unsure about whether the expense required to run a state-based exchange would increase healthcare costs for Floridians, reported The Miami Herald.
Scott also admitted it's unlikely Florida will meet upcoming deadlines for setting up a health insurance exchange. HHS recently extended the deadline to Dec. 14 for states to submit plans for their exchanges, but Florida hasn't taken any steps thus far to comply with the reform law.
To learn more:
- read the Associated Press article
- see the Palm Beach Post article
- check out the Miami Herald article