Florida is one of a handful states rejecting grants from the federal health care reform law, a key strategy suggested in literature provided at this year’s American Legislative Exchange Council conference, a conference many Florida legislators attended. # The Legislative Exchange Council (referred to as ALEC ) is a conservative nonprofit made up of state legislators and business leaders that writes model bills and resolutions aimed at helping businesses and weakening government entities
“„Through its grantmaking, the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act conscripts states into enforcement arms of federal policy. While these grants may be attractive to cash-strapped states, federal funding comes with federal strings. It is unlikely that HHS will allow states that accept federal grants to ignore federal mandates. Many states have already refused federal grants designed by Congress to enforce or implement ObamaCare. In 2010, then-Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty signed an executive order prohibiting state agencies from applying for ObamaCare-related discretionary grants. #
“„Two states (Alaska, Minnesota) declined federal funding to help set up health insurance exchanges. Five states (Alaska, Wyoming, Iowa, Georgia, Minnesota) rejected federal “rate review” grants that would have required state insurance officials to enforce new federal rules against “unreasonable premium increases.” And only one state (Connecticut) has accepted federal dollars to expand its Medicaid population in advance of the 2014 deadline. #
“„The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act also offered states “free” federal money if they set up new, temporary high-risk insurance pools. (Many states had already enacted a high-risk pool on their own, but in an odd twist, Congress wanted those states to set up a second pool to undercut the ones already in place.) Twenty three states rejected these “free” funds, citing inadequate funding and other concerns. Instead, these states have let the federal government set up the new pools for their citizens. #