Last week, I returned to Washington D.C. for committee hearings and floor votes. First priority for Congress was to pass a resolution that funded important services for our veterans, seniors, military and homeland security among others. On Friday we passed an one-week spending bill. This week we are considering a bill that will provide funding for the rest of the 2017 Fiscal Year, which lasts for five more months.
Additionally, Reps. McArthur and Meadows filed an amendment to the American Health Care Act, the legislation that will repeal and replace Obamacare with real healthcare reform. Their amendment enables states to develop insurance frameworks that best fit their unique populations and provide superior care and lower costs for individuals. To obtain a waiver, states must demonstrate that the purpose is to reduce healthcare costs or increase coverage for individuals. Under the waivers, States are required to establish a program for high-risk patients or premium stabilization, or they must participate in the federal risk-sharing program.
The amendment maintains protections for pre-existing conditions. It specifically says that it insurers are not allowed to limit coverage for those with pre-existing conditions. It also prohibits state from obtaining a waiver for pre-existing protection, for gender discrimination, for guaranteed issue and renewability or for the right of dependents to stay on a family plan up to age 26. Additionally, insurers are still prohibited from refusing to renew patient coverage because of your health status or charging you more because you become ill.
It is also important to note that members of Congress will be subject to all of these changes – they are not exempted. This is specifically stated in a bill introduced by Rep Martha McSally, myself and several other of our colleagues.
My concern that Florida will be penalized under the bill because of demand for Medicaid-funded nursing home beds has not been fixed. This is critical to the access some of our senior population has to Florida nursing homes. Florida is a very efficient state when it comes to providing Medicaid services, however we are among the fastest growing states in the nation. Many seniors depend on Medicaid-funded nursing home beds when their Medicare coverage runs out.
Our high senior population is likely going to explode as more baby boomers reach senior age. The formula expressed in the proposal calculates a per capita cost multiplied by the number of eligible Medicaid recipients for the previous year. The normal increase in cost of services coupled with being one of the fastest growing states in the country, puts Florida particularly at risk for exceeding the costs established under the bill. If a state’s costs exceeds the funds provided, the monies are taken out of the next year. I am concerned that this creates a vicious cycle of costs that – given our growth rate – Florida would likely never overcome. I continue to work with leadership and am still hopeful for a solution before bill comes up for a vote.
On Friday, President Trump signed another executive order on An America-first Offshore Energy Strategy calling for a review of drilling on the outer continental shelf. The order specifically mentions reviewing the Arctic Drilling Rule. The order does not include Florida’s beautiful gulf shores as a review site. Florida’s gulf coast is a world-renowned tourist attraction and base for military training and weapon testing. I am opposed to offshore drilling off Florida’s Gulf Coast. Last month, I and several of my Florida colleagues wrote to the administration expressing our strong opposition and I will continue to oppose efforts to drill in this area.
Congressman Daniel Webster represents The Villages in the U.S. House of Representatives.
