U.S. Rep. Kathy Castor released the following response to the Medicaid expansion announcement:

“Families and businesses across Florida will be well-served by doctor visits and medical care under the Affordable Care Act's Medicaid expansion. Florida has more to gain than just about any other state and the state’s economic prospects are looking brighter with the move toward the broad expansion of health services to likely a million Floridians. As many as 274,000 currently uninsured individuals in the Tampa Bay area alone will now receive coverage.  The Florida Legislature should move swiftly to implement this vital health care reform and follow the near unanimous advice of health professionals, consumer advocates and economists.

For instance, according to a July 2012 report by the Florida Center for Fiscal and Economic Policy, each dollar that the state spends to expand Medicaid will leverage an additional $9.51 in federal funding for Florida. FCFEP also estimates that these funds will directly stimulate the economy and create 65,000 private-sector jobs during the first six years.

After working on the passage of the Affordable Care Act in Congress, including the essential Medicaid provisions, and years of urging our state officials to implement the law, I am gratified that so many of our neighbors are on a hopeful path to greater economic security and healthier lives.”

U.S. Rep. Kathy Castor serves on the powerful Energy and Commerce Committee, including the Health Subcommittee, and as a member helped craft the Affordable Care Act. The Health Subcommittee also has oversight for NIH, the National Cancer Institute, CDC and Food and Drug Administration.