Top GOP senator says senate wants to find solution for low-income uninsured

Kathleen Haughney

1:53 p.m. EST, March 5, 2013

TALLAHASSEE -- A leading Senate Republican said that the Senate is looking for ways to get the more than 800,000 low-income uninsured population, who would qualify for Medicaid if the state expanded the program under the Affordable Care Act, health? care.

"I still think that there are a large number of people out there that are uninsured, that frankly, we need to be serious about and see if we can find a way to do it that protects the taxpayers obviously but also gives us a chance to bring some of the uninsured into a program that gives them insurance," said Sen.<strong> John Thrasher</strong>, R-St. Augustine, the Rules Chairman of the Senate.

The House said Monday that they would not back an expansion of Medicaid, even though Gov. Rick Scott has said he supports a three-year expansion because the federal government picks up 100 percent of the tab.?

The Senate has not yet taken a formal position on the issue.

Regardless, both chambers have said if they can't reach an agreement on Medicaid, they do want to look for alternatives to insure a population that is poor, but just not poor enough to qualify for Medicaid under the current rules.

Watch Thrasher talk to reporters below. Video by Jennifer Curington.

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