Feds Say They're Not Suspending Talks With Florida
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TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (CBSMiami/AP) —Federal Health officials said they are not suspending negotiations over the potential loss of more than $1 billion in funding for state hospitals, despite rumors the talks were being halted.
Agency for Health Care Administration Secretary Liz Dudek said Wednesday that federal officials were pausing negotiations for at least two weeks because a top official was going on vacation.
Dudek said in a doom and gloom statement that the decision to discontinue negotiations now "is troubling and could signal the abrupt end of this federal healthcare program in Florida."
But officials for the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services assured everyone Thursday that talks will continue, and they remain in contact with Florida.
Dudek's statement had Tallahassee lawmakers in a twitter as they try to finalize a new state budget before the end of the session on May 1st. Senate Republicans have vowed that they will not vote for a budget if it requires large cuts to hospitals.
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