Lawmakers Wrestle with Affordable Care Act Implementation
Most observers would concede that Florida’s insurance code is complicated enough as it stands. In the health insurance context, it contains numerous requirements governing insurers, their financial requirements and obligations, product offerings and benefits, and other issues. This year, Florida lawmakers are dealing with an added dimension of complexity– reconciling the insurance code to the new requirements of the federal Affordable Care Act.
The legislature has established committees to deal with the implementation issues. Key topics include the implementation and effect of health insurance exchanges and the expansion of the Medicaid system. In a number of areas, the requirements of the new law will require modifications to existing state regulations.
Senate President Don Gaetz recently commented that there are “a lot of devils and a lot of details …” in the implementation process as it relates to updating state laws. The Florida Office of Insurance Regulation recently summarized the key areas of potential disconnect between state and federal law and will continue to provide guidance to the legislature as the 2013 session approaches.
Economists predict that 910,324 people could enroll in Florida Medicaid if the program were expanded to 138 percent of the poverty level as contemplated by the Affordable Care Act. This level is $31,809 annually for a family of four. Senator Gaetz has deferred comments on Medicaid expansion, saying “there is no reason we have to make a decision before we have to make a decision.” House Speaker Will Weatherford, however, is hopeful the issues will take shape early in the session. “I think we will know early in session on Medicaid expansion. That is not something that we need to drag out,” Weatherford said. “I don’t know if that’s March or April but I don’t think it’s something we decide on day 60 on the last night of session,’’ he added. Of course, history shows that sometimes despite the legislature’s best intentions and significant work in advance, important issues indeed take the entire session to resolve.