Florida GOP Legislature rejects millions more in federal health-care grants

[seafan]

Rigid right wing ideology is more important to Rick Scott and his Legislative henchmen than addressing the needs of the people of Florida.



Florida rejects millions more in federal health-care grants

By Linda Shrieves, Orlando Sentinel
June 29, 2011

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In the past week, Florida lawmakers turned down a $2.1 million federal grant that would pave the way for the state to receive $35 million in federal funding that would move elderly and disabled patients from nursing homes to their own homes during the next five years.

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That's the latest example of Florida turning down federal money because it's related to the health-care overhaul. So far, the state has turned down, given back or refused to apply for at least $54 million in federal funds.

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"Not only would accepting the Money Follows the Person grant go against our policy of implementing federal health-care reform, but it would be redundant to the multiple efforts that Florida has already made to improve the delivery of long-term care," said Rep. Denise Grimsley, R-Sebring, chairwoman of the state's House Appropriations Committee.

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"It just gets more and more outrageous," said Laura Goodhue of Florida CHAIN, a nonprofit group dedicated to health care. "People are getting upset, especially community providers because they know this money could be put to good use… . These are our seniors; they're our grandparents."

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Tallahassee is in need of an exorcism. Voting every last one of these corrupt ba$tard$ out will suffice.

[iemitsu]

1. it is unbelievable how many elected officials

are willing to harm the very people who elected them.

[Tippy]

2. I just hope they have long memories........

[HockeyMom]

3. No profits in your own home

as opposed to nursing homes and hospitals. Apart from tourism, for profit healthcare has to be the biggest industry in Florida. Never in all my half centry of living in another state, did I ever see so much health care being hawked on the TV, newspapers, etc.

[seafan]

4. It's why health care is so $$$$--BigHealthCare rejects outright any profit-harming solutions

The BigHealthCare Middle Men and their political prostitutes will fight any solutions for long-term care for the aged and sick that will ultimately cut into their profits and their repeated claims that *Medicare* is the reason health care costs are skyrocketing, **so that's why Medicare needs to be dismantled**.


Got to populate those nursing homes, don'tcha know. Good for the Middle Men's bottom line, with all of those nice Medicare contracts in the meantime...

"Five days a week of day care costs $15,000 a year and enables a caregiver to continue working. Compare that cost for a family to $70,000 a year for nursing homes," said Grant, who operates Share the Care, an Orlando nonprofit that provides day care and support for caregivers of the elderly.

It makes more sense, Grant says, to move people out of nursing homes and support them — by providing independent-living facilities or care at home with their families — than to spend more money on nursing-home care.

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For example, Oregon — a state with a population one-sixth the size of Florida's — already has received more than $110 million in federal funding to move the elderly from nursing homes back to the community.

"Florida taxpayers pay federal taxes as well, but Florida is not getting those tax dollars returned," McRay said.

..... LINK

Expanding Medicare to all is the solution.

Right now, Medicare covers the sickest and oldest among us, and it's the reason for staggeringly high costs. Having younger, healthy people also in the pool will spread out the risk and reduce costs. And that is why BigHealthCare fights it tooth and claw, to preserve its legacy of looting.

[madrchsod]

5. more money for those states who actually give a shit about people

illinois got some of the money florida turned down. maybe we`ll get a few bucks out of this latest bullshit