Christine Jordan Sexton
Sen. Rene Garcia sent Gov. Rick Scott a letter Wednesday expressing his interest in being on the new healthcare and hospital commission that Scott created through an executive order.
“Our state is facing many critical health care challenges and our hospitals are an important partner in providing services to Floridians in need of medical treatment,” Garcia wrote in the letter. “My constituents include many patients of the Jackson Memorial Health Care System.”
Additionally, Garcia, who chairs the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Health and Human Services, noted that he represents the county whose taxpayers contribute the largest amount of local dollars to help fund the Low Income Pool program. Garcia said as chair of the Senate health care spending panel he has “had the opportunity to study and evaluate various options to address the health care needs of our state in a manner that makes the best use of taxpayer dollars.”
Scott created the commission through executive order and there has been significant interest in being on the panel. The order did not pick the members of the commission, advise how many people would be on the commission or spell out when the commission would begin meeting. Scott said the commission, which will take a closer look at health care costs in Florida, could be helpful as the state prepares for a budget Special Session set for June 1-20.
