Discouraging Senate Budget Fails to Address Medicaid Provider Tax
OR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: March 13, 2013
CONTACT: Slade O’Brien (561) 441-5866 or sobrien@afphq.org
Discouraging Senate Budget Fails to Address Medicaid Provider Tax
States can still fleece federal taxpayers by pumping up prices on services to Medicaid
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — Americans for Prosperity – Florida is discouraged by the budget released by the Senate Budget Committee this morning, which fails to resolve structural deficits or provide tax relief to all Americans. It also fails to address Medicaid provider tax schemes, which are allowing costs for the program to spiral out of control — and which even President Obama had addressed in previous budget requests.
AFP-FL State Director Slade O’Brien released the following statement:
“It’s discouraging that the Senate will not address a problem that even President Obama saw fit to solve in previous budget requests,” O’Brien said. “Medicaid provider taxes allow states and hospitals to collude to raise the prices of health care services to Medicaid patients in order to draw down more federal matching funds. These schemes may be legal, but they are grossly unfair to federal taxpayers, and they make it easier for states to bear the costs of undergoing the dramatic expansion of Medicaid called for under the president’s health care law.
“In Florida and elsewhere, governors who purport to be conservatives want to take federal money to place constituents in a broken entitlement program with the hope of ensuring their votes come election day. These plans are pushing the nation further into debt in excahnge for short-term political gain.”
For more information on the Medicaid provider tax, take a look at AFP’s video, “The Medicaid Funding Scam.”
To interview Slade O’Brien, contact him at 561-441-5866 or sobrien@afphq.org.
Americans for Prosperity (AFP) is a nationwide organization of citizen-leaders committed to advancing every individual’s right to economic freedom and opportunity. AFP believes reducing the size and intrusiveness of government is the best way to promote individual productivity and prosperity for all Americans. For more information, visit www.americansforprosperity.org
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