Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

Centers For Medicare And Medicaid Want To Partner With Florida To Lower Health Care Costs

Patrick Conway, chief medical officer for the Centers of Medicare and Medicaid Services, speaking with Donna Shalala, president of University of Miami at the university's annual health care conference this year.
Gort Productions
Patrick Conway, chief medical officer for the Centers of Medicare and Medicaid Services, speaking with Donna Shalala, president of University of Miami at the university's annual health care conference this year.

The Florida Legislature is debating on whether to expand Medicaid. About two weeks ago, the Senate overwhelmingly approved a bill that would expand health care coverage to about 800,000 low-income Floridians using billions in federal dollars.

Patrick Conway, chief medical officer for the Centers of Medicare and Medicaid Services, speaking with Donna Shalala, president of University of Miami at the university's annual health care conference this year.
Credit Gort Productions
Patrick Conway, chief medical officer for the Centers of Medicare and Medicaid Services, speaking with Donna Shalala, president of University of Miami at the university's annual health care conference this year.

And the U.S. Centers For Medicare and Medicaid Serviceswould have to grant the state a waiver to get the federal funds.Patrick Conway is the chief medical officer for CMS. He spoke at University of Miami’s healthcare conference Monday.

"Our goal is to really partner with the providers and the people in the state of Florida to improve quality and lower costs," says Conway. 

But CMS has already rejected some components of the bill found in other states.The bill still needs to be considered by the House.

Click here to read more about this from Miami Herald.

Copyright 2020 WLRN 91.3 FM. To see more, visit WLRN 91.3 FM.

Jessica Meszaros is a reporter and host of All Things Consideredfor WGCU News.