Ariz. hospitals drop Medicaid cuts lawsuit; Fla. Gov. signs controversial Medicaid bill

Both states have news happening in their Medicaid programs.

Arizona Republic: Hospital Association Drops AHCCCS Lawsuit
The Arizona Hospital and Healthcare Association has dropped a lawsuit challenging payment cuts from the state's Medicaid program. The hospital group in November sued the Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System to reverse a 5 percent cut in hospital payment rates. Rather than pursue the court case, Arizona Hospital and Healthcare Association President and CEO Laurie Liles said her group would seek to work with lawmakers to restore hospital funding rates (Alltucker, 3/29).

The Miami Herald: Gov. Rick Scott Signs Medicaid Billing Changes; May Cost Counties $326 Million
Against the wishes of counties and tea party leaders, Gov. Rick Scott signed a controversial bill into law Thursday that will change the way counties are billed for Medicaid costs and could set up a legal showdown. If nothing changes, counties could be forced to pay the state an additional $325.5 million in the coming years in disputed Medicaid bills (Mitchell, 3/29).