TALLAHASSEE, Fla. - A House panel has approved two bills to expand Medicaid privatization to all 67 Florida counties.

The Select Policy Council on Strategic and Economic Planning agreed to formally file the bills to carry out the plan with just one dissenting vote in each case. It's on a fast track after getting a late start.

House leaders waited until last week to unveil the measure, and just 18 days remain in the 60-day session. The Senate already passed legislation to let private companies or other groups provide managed care, but on a smaller scale. It would add 19 counties to five already in an experiment for the program serving low-income and disabled people.