On Wednesday, Florida Agency for Health Care Administration Secretary Elizabeth Dudek issued a statement, claiming that federal officials had halted negotiations over the program known as the Low Income Pool. She called the news “sudden and disappointing.”
“AHCA’s conversations with CMS had been productive and positive until this point. For CMS to discontinue LIP negotiations now is troubling and could signal the abrupt end of this federal healthcare program in Florida,” Ms. Dudek said in a statement.
However, CMS disputed those claims, saying that it”remains in contact with state officials and continues to share information.”
In a statement issued Thursday, CMS said its senior officials will continue to talk to state officials about securing access to high quality healthcare coverage for poor Floridians.
As things stand now, the Low Income Pool, which provides federal support for Florida safety-net providers that furnish uncompensated care to the Medicaid, underinsured and uninsured populations is slated to expire in June.
In the meantime, President Barack Obama’s administration is pushing for Florida to expand Medicaid under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, according to The Tampa Tribune.
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