Rick Scott Overstates Cost Of Health Care Overhaul

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) — Florida Gov. Rick Scott says that President Barack Obama’s health care overhaul will cost Florida taxpayers $1.9 billion a year, but the estimate is considerably less than that.

Scott announced late Friday that despite a Supreme Court ruling the state would not implement portions of the overhaul, including expanding Medicaid coverage to those just above the poverty level.

During television appearances Scott defended his move by citing the cost. The $1.9 billion figure was also included in a press release sent out by the governor’s office which said the state would save that much money by refusing to expand Medicaid.

But the figure cited by the governor included state and federal shares of Medicaid costs. Additionally, the figure included costs that are not connected to the Medicaid expansion.