In a recent appearance on Fox Business's Kudlow, Senator Rick Scott (R-FL) discussed Republicans' efforts to transition away from the Affordable Care Act (Obamacare) and lower healthcare costs.
Replacing Obamacare has been a topic of concern for Republicans, given that so many Americans are dependent on it.
On the issue, Sen. Scott commented that "there is no reason why prices cost what they cost. It is all because of government."
In other words, the Florida Republican believes that the government should not be directing "the money." "Have the money going to the individual... Let them choose a healthcare plan that fits for their family, not what some big government program says it should be, or some insurance company says it should be. If you do that, you are going to start seeing people be shoppers, which is going to drive down healthcare costs," the Florida senator suggested.
"Now, you can still take care of preexisting conditions," the Florida Senator continued. "You want to make sure people get healthcare."
However, Scott noted, "You look around the world, when government runs healthcare, they restrict access to healthcare."
The discussion coincides with recent accusations that the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has delayed approval of Florida's hospital-directed payment program (DPP) as political targeting.
Several Florida lawmakers urged approval of the program, citing the consequences of hospital closures and unwanted tax hikes if the approval continues to be slow-walked.
More recently, several conservative activist groups, including the Center for Freedom and Prosperity, the Center for Individual Freedom, the Small Business & Entrepreneurship Council, and the American Consumer Institute, have written to CMS Administrator Dr. Mehmet Oz, calling the delay "unprecedented and unjustified."
