Florida Commissioner of Agriculture Adam H. Putnam issued the following statement regarding EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt’s proposal to repeal the Obama-era WOTUS final rule.
“The federal government overstepped its authority under the Obama Administration with its overreaching and nonsensical WOTUS rule. I applaud EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt’s move to undo these overly burdensome regulations that cost American workers precious dollars to meet unnecessary and unscientific standards.”
repeal
Bradley files legislation to repeal Certificate of Need Program
State Senator Rob Bradley (R-Fleming Island) filed legislation today (SB 676) which would eliminate the Certificate of Need (CON) Program at the Agency for Health Care Administration. Under existing law, health care providers must obtain a certificate of need prior to constructing new hospitals, nursing homes, hospices or intermediate care facilities in the state or to convert from one type of health care facility to another. The CON program drives up health care costs by limiting health care choices for consumers. In removing the program, Senate Bill 676 will shift the requirements from CON to licensure for new providers or facilities providing new services.
“By eliminating the state’s restrictive CON process we’ll increase competition and drive down the cost of health care for Floridians,” said Senator Bradley. “For years, this cumbersome process has been used to block the expansion of facilities and restrict competition. So, in addition to driving costs, we should also see a significant economic impact in terms of the creation of new jobs by removing this barrier.”
The Governor’s office is also backing Senator Bradley’s legislation. Governor Rick Scott said, “I’ve traveled across our state and spoken with Floridians who have been charged unconscionable prices for procedures. This session, I want to fight to make the healthcare system fair for families and ensure health care works for patients and not for hospitals’ bottom lines. I look forward to working with Senator Bradley to champion this legislation as we continue to help bring greater access, quality, transparency and fairness to patients.”
The bill authorizes the Agency for Health Care Administration to develop licensure rules for new providers or facilities providing new services and sets guidelines for the licensure of hospitals and hospice facilities.
ICYMI: CNN – Rick Scott: GOP shouldn't hesitate to repeal Obamacare
Rick Scott: GOP shouldn’t hesitate to repeal Obamacare
CNN
Governor Rick Scott
January 27, 2017
To read the full op-ed, click HERE.
Gov. Scott: Obamacare must be repealed and replaced immediately
On Friday morning, in response to Leader McCarthy’s December 2nd letter, Governor Scott sent a letter urging Congress to repeal and replace Obamacare on day one of the new administration.
Excerpts from the letter are below:
“For far too long, it has been fashionable in Washington to say Obamacare can only be tweaked. We have seen debate after debate in Washington about this bad law but nothing has been changed. It has to be completely overhauled and now is the time to do it. We cannot let the usual political games or partisan gridlock of Washington get in the way of immediately repealing and replacing Obamacare with a plan that actually works.
The impact of Obamacare has been devastating in Florida and our nation. Obamacare was sold on a lie from the very start. Costs are skyrocketing, people have not been able to keep their doctors and many people have fewer doctors to choose from. The increases in health care costs are at a 32-year high and are expected to continue increasing in the coming months. Recent news of Obamacare rates rising 25 percent is absurd and families simply cannot afford it. We can do better and the families and businesses footing the bill deserve better.
…
I know the new administration is committed to getting rid of this bad law and it was great to hear this week that their first order of business will be to repeal Obamacare. I hope it happens January 20th…”
TO READ THE FULL LETTER, CLICK HERE.
Nelson files legislation to prevent repeal of Medicare “donut hole” provisions
U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson filed legislation today to prevent Congress from repealing key provisions of the Affordable Care Act that have, on average, saved many of Florida’s Medicare-covered seniors nearly $1,000 per year on the cost of their prescription drugs.
The measure, which Nelson filed as an amendment to a broader budget bill currently under debate, would prevent the Senate from considering any legislation that repeals the Affordable Care Act’s provisions aimed at closing the gap in Medicare’s prescription drug coverage, commonly known as the “donut hole.”
Under current law, when a Medicare beneficiary and their plan spends $3,700 on prescription drugs in a single year, that beneficiary becomes responsible for a larger share of the cost of their prescription drugs until the beneficiary’s total out-of-pocket costs for the year reach $4,950, at which time Medicare will resume paying for the cost of the drugs.
Prior to the 2010 healthcare law taking effect, the gap in coverage started at $2,700 and ended at $6,100. The provisions included in the ACA have shrunk that gap and aims to completely close it by 2020.
Nelson’s measure would protect those provisions, ensuring that seniors continue to save on the cost of their prescription drugs even if Congress repeals the rest of the law.
“Closing this gap in coverage, known as the donut hole, has helped seniors in Florida save nearly $1,000 a year,” Nelson said. “Why would you want to get rid of that? We should be looking for ways to lower – not increase – the cost of prescription drugs, especially for our seniors.”
According to the Department of Health and Human Services, the provisions Nelson wants to keep in place saved Florida’s 355,000 Medicare-covered seniors more than $350 million in 2015 alone. That’s an average annual savings of $987 per senior.
The text of Nelson’s legislation is available here.
