Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Christine Jordan SextonJune 3, 2015

It was not unanimous but the Florida Senate on Wednesday passed a bill off the floor to use Medicaid funding under the Affordable Care Act, often called Obamacare, to expand access to health care for low income uninsured Floridians. Passed by a 33-3 vote, SB 2-A was amended and debated the same day so it […]

Christine Jordan SextonMay 28, 2015

The 2015 Special Session is being referred to as a budget session but it could just as easily be described as the Special Session on health care. Thirty-two bills have been filed for consideration in the 2015A session and 40 percent of them involve health care, either through substantive policy changes, financing, or both. They […]

Christine Jordan SextonMay 27, 2015

Amid an ongoing dust-up over Florida’s health care spending, there are troubling signs that one of the reforms touted by Gov. Rick Scott may not be saving taxpayers money as initially promised. Scott signed into law in 2011 a measure that shifted Florida’s 3 million plus Medicaid patients into managed care. Scott praised the move […]

Christine Jordan SextonMay 11, 2015

Gov. Rick Scott named nine people to the newly created healthcare and hospital board on Monday, steering clear of appointing anyone to the commission who is affiliated with a hospital. One medical doctor serves on the commission. Many of the commission members Scott appointed have made campaign contributions to Scott, the governor’s political committee, Let’s […]

Christine Jordan SextonMay 5, 2015

Despite a looming lawsuit — and the meltdown of this year’s Legislative Session — Florida’s top health care official said the state is talking again with its federal counterparts. Liz Dudek, secretary for the Agency for Health Care Administration, told reporters Tuesday that her agency had a “brief conversation” this week with federal officials. Dudek […]

Christine Jordan SextonMay 4, 2015

Gov. Rick Scott on Monday reappointed 14 men and women as directors of state agencies despite the Florida Senate refusing to confirm them during the Legislative Session. The agencies run the gamut from Department of Economic Opportunity to the Agency for Persons with Disabilities to the State Technology Agency. Florida Department of Law Enforcement Commissioner […]

Christine Jordan SextonApril 23, 2015

Senate President Andy Gardiner isn’t making any promises that the Senate will confirm Gov. Rick Scott‘s appointments for agency heads. Gardiner said he couldn’t make any assurances that the Senate will confirm any of the governor’s appointments, including Agency for Health Care Administration Secretary Liz Dudek, who transformed the state’s Medicaid program into a mandatory […]

Christine Jordan SextonApril 21, 2015

Florida’s budget showdown over hospital funding may not be resolved until midsummer thanks to a little-noticed series of deadlines that accompany the state’s official request to draw down billions in health care funding. The decision by the Agency for Health Care Administration Secretary Liz Dudek on Monday to propose an amendment to the existing Medicaid waiver […]

Christine Jordan SextonApril 16, 2015

Borrowing the governor’s often-used slogan “let’s get to work” House Democrats on Thursday said it’s time for House Republicans and Gov. Rick Scott to work on finding a solution to the impasse on health care that has brought the 2015 legislative session to a grinding halt. At an early morning press conference on Thursday House […]

Christine Jordan SextonApril 15, 2015

The Senate Ethics and Elections Committee voted 8-1 to approve Liz Dudek‘s appointment as head of the state Agency for Health Care Administration but only after she answered more than an hour’s worth of questions regarding Low Income Pool funding, Medicaid expansion and how negotiations are evolving with the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. […]

Tag: Liz Dudek

Senate passes health care expansion bill by 33-3 vote

Upcoming special session almost as much about health care as budget

Another health care budget headache for Florida?

9 appointments made to new health care, hospital commission

On-again, off-again LIP talks with feds back on again, Liz Dudek says

Rick Scott reappoints 14 agency heads after Senate snub

Rick Scott’s executive appointments may be in trouble after all

Feds have until July 4 to answer state on Medicaid

House Dems say “Let’s get to work” on Medicaid expansion

Senate grills, then confirms, AHCA Secretary Liz Dudek