Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Jim RosicaApril 15, 2016

Gov. Rick Scott Thursday vetoed legislation that could have helped poor and rural Floridians get dental care, saying it held too much potential for abuse of public dollars. The bill (HB 139), filed by state Rep. Travis Cummings, had been passed unanimously by both chambers of the Legislature in the 2016 Legislative Session. It created […]

Phil AmmannMarch 10, 2015

On Tuesday, a Florida House panel killed a bill attempting to overhaul the Florida Medicaid program that provides dental care for children. With a 6-to-6 tie, the House Health Innovation Subcommittee shelved HB 601, filed by Tequesta Republican Rep. MaryLynn Magar. In the state’s new Medicaid managed-care structure, HMOs and other plans are responsible for offering […]

Guest AuthorFebruary 19, 2014

It is well known that Florida has difficult challenges in delivering oral-health services to low-income children. Yet progress is being made. Florida’s prepaid “carved out” dental-health plans are able to maximize dollars received from the state and boost provider participation in their networks. They are directly accountable to the state government. This progress will be […]

Guest AuthorJanuary 8, 2014

The Florida Association of Health Plans (FAHP), which represents billion-dollar HMOs, is pulling a bait-and-switch on the health of Florida’s most vulnerable children. They oppose important legislation designed to protect the oral health of underserved kids. At issue is roughly $200 million annually in taxpayer dollars that today provide care to kids through the “carved-out” […]

Tag: dental care

Rick Scott vetoes dental care program for the poor

House panel kills bill to change Medicaid dental programs for children

Dr. Frank Catalanotto: State’s dental carve-out works, should be continued

Sen. Flores & Rep. Diaz: Protect dental health of underserved kids