Ryan Nicol
The House Children, Families & Seniors Subcommittee unanimously OK’d a measure Tuesday (HB 1071) helping to ensure former foster children are enrolled in Medicaid.
Federal law requires states to provide Medicaid coverage to individuals aged out of foster care until they are 26 years old. State law, however, also requires individuals 21 and older to apply for Medicaid coverage on their own and reapply each year.
The bill’s sponsor, Republican Rep. Rick Roth of West Palm Beach, noted that some foster youth are left behind, either because they forget to opt into that coverage or because they’re unaware.
“What this bill does is require DCF to develop a program to facilitate the enrollment of former foster youth eligible for Medicaid,” Roth explained. “This program will communicate, locate and enroll eligible young adults into Medicaid, eliminate barriers to continuous enrollment, and provide outreach and technical assistance in enrolling.”
Roth argued those efforts can help reach former foster youth who may be missing out on Medicaid benefits. The measure earned bipartisan support via a 16-0 vote in its second committee stop.
“They have been bounced all over the place, from one home to the other,” Democratic Rep. Marie Woodson said of foster youth prior to voting in favor of the bill.
“They really need our support and our help in order for them to be healthy, in order for them to be successful as well. And this is one way to start getting them the help that they need in order for them to be able to move forward.”
Roth explained that he joined the push after hearing from GOP Sen. Ileana Garcia, who is carrying the Senate version of the legislation (SB 1526). Roth said the need for quality health care during the COVID-19 outbreak was one factor in spurring the bill.
“During this time of transition with the pandemic and other issues, we need to make it easier,” Roth said.
Medicaid has been a hot topic at times in the Florida Legislature, with Florida Democrats repeatedly pushing for expanding coverage in the state. Lawmakers did recently agree to extend coverage for new mothers. Roth argued his legislation fits in the latter category and is devoid of the more partisan debates surrounding health coverage.
“It’s none of those ideological arguments,” Roth said. “This is a practical matter. This is what the government is supposed to be doing: finding ways to help service and serve our constituents.”
Roth’s legislation has two more committee stops to go, with the Health Care Appropriations Subcommittee and Health and Human Services Committee both planning to hear the bill.
