Gov. Rick Scott has appointed nine members to a commission aimed at wading through the finances of hospitals that receive tax-payer funds. Only one health care professional, a reconstructive microsurgeon, was named in yesterday’s announcement. With a looming $1 billion hole in the budget from the potential loss of federal funds for hospitals that treat Medicaid and uninsured patients, Scott is working to show that Florida hospitals are not in as bad financial shape as they maintain. He’s even asking hospitals to draw up profit sharing plans. Several hospitals have said they would be forced to cut services or shut down without the federal hospital funds. They want the governor to expand Medicaid to more than 800,000 Floridians, but Scott and House Republicans are opposed. The fight has stalled approval of a new state budget. Lawmakers will meet for a special session starting June 1st.
