Editorial: Gov. Scott, GOP House members holding Florida hospitals hostage

Gov. Rick Scott and Florida House Republicans are failing our uninsured residents and our hospitals that care for them. They oppose the Senate's plan to accept federal Medicaid expansion money and overhaul the Low Income Pool, which sends hospitals more than $1.5 billion a year in federal, state and local money to treat the uninsured. The issues are linked, and the federal government has made clear it will not keep sending money to the pool this summer without changes. Florida taxpayers and hospitals cannot be expected to make up more than $1 billion in federal dollars for charity care. Tell the governor and House Republicans to stop fighting Washington and putting our residents and hospitals at risk. Tell them to embrace the Senate's bipartisan plan to provide more than 800,000 uninsured Floridians with private coverage and to keep the money flowing for charity care to our hospitals.

Tampa General Hospital

Loss: $86.5 million

Tampa General is a nonprofit hospital, the region's only Level 1 trauma center and one of the state's four burn centers. It has more than 1,000 beds and is the primary teaching hospital for the University of South Florida's College of Medicine.

"A loss of $86 million would have a devastating impact on our ability to fulfill our mission. The ripple effects of such a loss would be felt by thousands of people in the Tampa Bay area and beyond who count on us for their medical needs." Steve Short, chief financial officer

BayCare Health System

Loss: $100 million

BayCare operates 13 nonprofit hospitals, including Morton Plant Hospital in Clearwater, St. Anthony's Hospital in St. Petersburg and St. Joseph's Hospital in Tampa. The system provides more than $110 million in traditional charity care and $121 million in care through Medicaid and other means-tested programs.

"BayCare has more than $100 million at risk with the renewal of LIP, which provides a critical financial bridge for the services BayCare provides under- and uninsured patients. The future of LIP is directly connected to the state's decision to support health care expansion. 'No' is no longer an option. We implore our state leaders to work toward a solution that is in the best interests of nearly 1 million uninsured Floridians." Steve Mason, chief executive officer

All Children's Hospital

Johns Hopkins Medicine

Loss: $55.5 million

The 259-bed hospital in St. Petersburg serves children from throughout Florida and beyond and traces its roots back nearly a century. It opened a new facility in 2010 and joined the Johns Hopkins Health System.

"Losing the $55 million would be devastating. The funds make it possible for All Children's to provide necessary care for all children with acute or chronic medical conditions who are covered by the state Medicaid program. Medicaid reimbursements often do not cover the cost of care, leaving LIP to fill that gap. Children with these complex conditions may lose access to critical specialized care if LIP funding is not extended." Jonathan Ellen, president and physician in chief

Bayfront Health

Loss: $10 million

Bayfront is a 480-bed hospital with a long history in St. Petersburg. It was a locally operated nonprofit for decades before it was sold two years ago to a for-profit chain, and it is now owned by Community Health Systems as the flagship for a network of seven Gulf Coast hospitals.

"Bayfront has taken pride in serving the community for their health care needs since 1906. The community will be negatively impacted without the appropriate federal health care funding.''

Kathryn J. Gillette, market president and chief executive officer