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Compromise to Help Uninsured 'Unlikely'

The Florida Senate is scheduled to vote on state Sen. Joe Negron's Healthy Florida plan on Tuesday, which would accept billions of dollars in federal funds through the Affordable Care Act to provide health coverage to 1.1 million uninsured low-income Floridians.

Negron, R-Stuart, sounded determined but pessimistic on Monday, saying he doesn't see how the Senate's plan can be meshed with the House's version, which accepts no federal funds and would provide subsidies to about 115,000.

The House has already rejected the Senate plan, which state Rep. Mike Fasano introduced last week as an amendment to the House's plan. That House plan, Florida Health Choices Plus, would use only state money and would leave out adults who aren't disabled or don't have young children at home.

The differences between the plans are so great that Negron told reporters on Monday that he thinks a compromise is "unlikely," News Service of Florida reported.

He also said he thinks a special session to resolve the matter is "improbable."

Copyright 2013 WUSF Public Media - WUSF 89.7

Carol Gentry, founder and special correspondent of Health News Florida, has four decades of experience covering health finance and policy, with an emphasis on consumer education and protection.
Carol Gentry
Carol Gentry, founder and special correspondent of Health News Florida, has four decades of experience covering health finance and policy, with an emphasis on consumer education and protection.