“Working with the Trump Administration to secure a commitment of $1.5 billion in LIP funding for our state will truly improve the quality and access to health care for our most vulnerable populations,” Scott said.
The governor also fit in a dig at former President Barack Obama, whose administration tussled with Scott and Florida House Republicans two years ago about the connection between Medicaid expansion and LIP funding.
“It is great to have a partner in Washington who is willing to work with us to help our state,” Scott said.
It wasn’t immediately clear the exact dimensions of the increase from the federal government. LIP is a matching program that also draws funding from local sources.
The Senate voted unanimously Wednesday to approve its 2017-2018 budget proposal, which banked on $607 million being available for the LIP program. The overall Senate budget plan amounts to about $85.1 billion when all funding sources are taken into account.
The increased LIP funds could allow the state to tap money that had been used to help hospitals cope with declining LIP money under Obama.
