Gov. Rick Scott, who has been pushing his fellow Republicans to overhaul the Affordable Care Act, said Friday he plans to travel to Washington next week to offer "input" on the Senate's Obamacare repeal bill.
After weeks of secret negotiations, Senate Republicans on Thursday unveiled their plan to replace Obamacare.
Scott's announcement made it clear that the governor is not in favor of the Senate bill as it is now drafted, even though he avoided directly criticizing GOP leaders.
Scott, a former health care executive, said he wants to "make the bill better for Floridians."
"All states must be treated equitably," he said, adding that Florida taxpayers should be treated the same as those in other states under the Medicaid program. The statement suggests Scott is concerned about how Florida will fare because the state opted against expanding Medicaid under Obamacare.
Scott added that every American should have the ability to purchase "any kind of insurance they want" even if they have pre-existing conditions."
"Let's remember, costs have skyrocketed under Obamacare and we need a new health care policy that allows patients to have access to quality healthcare at an affordable price,'' he said.
Scott did not include any details in his announcement about when he is leaving for Washington, nor with whom he plans to meet.
The governor, who is expected to launch a campaign for U.S. Senate next year, has been involved in discussions about the repeal of Obamacare since President Donald Trump took office.
Democratic U.S. Sen Bill Nelson has criticized the Senate bill because it includes proposed cuts to Medicaid.
U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio said Thursday he wants to meet with Florida officials about the statewide impact of the new Senate plan.
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