Fort Lauderdale, Fla. (AP) — Federal health officials have given Florida the green light to enroll long-term care patients into a statewide Medicaid privatization program.

Gov. Rick Scott’s said Monday he was grateful for the decision and urgently asked federal health officials to approve a second request, which would allow Florida officials to privatize Medicaid for most populations statewide.

Scott noted that Florida lawmakers need a decision soon so they can figure out how it will impact their plans to implement The Affordable Care Act.

The approved waiver allows Florida to enroll patients who require long-term care into programs that will offer services in their home or other community programs to keep them out of nursing homes.

Florida passed laws in 2011 that allow for-profit providers to determine the health care of Medicaid recipients.

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