Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Christine Jordan SextonMay 19, 2015

The for-profit hospital chain Hospital Corporation of America is asking Gov. Rick Scott to raise taxes on hospitals. Presidents from the four HCA hospital regions in Florida sent a letter to Scott regarding the Commission on Healthcare and Hospital Funding saying that the Low Income Pool is not a long-term solution and that Scott should […]

Christine Jordan SextonMay 15, 2015

Nine days after announcing the dates, the Florida Legislature issued the proclamation for the special session. The call is wide open, including Medicaid expansion, elimination of certificate of need law, direct primary care, state group health insurance changes,the budget and conforming bills from the 2015 regular legislative session and tax relief. As previously announced, the […]

Christine Jordan SextonMay 14, 2015

Rick Scott sent a memo to his agencies on Thursday asking them to compile a list of services people cannot lose and identifying what would be funded in a pared back budget he’s developing for the upcoming year. Scott has refused to directly answer, though, whether he’ll be submitting the information he compiles with the […]

Christine Jordan SextonMay 14, 2015

Gov. Rick Scott told state agencies Thursday to compile a list by Monday of critical services that people “cannot lose” and submit them to his office to help prepare a budget for the 2015-16 fiscal year. Scott’s memo to agency heads includes a list of critical services the Office of Planning and Budgeting has identified […]

Christine Jordan SextonMay 14, 2015

To prepare for the first meeting of the Commission on Healthcare and Hospital Funding next week in Tallahassee Gov. Rick Scott has asked Florida hospitals and HMOs for detailed financial information. Scott asked in a letter that they detail their finances between 2006 and 2013 on a government form. He also wants data on the […]

Christine Jordan SextonMay 13, 2015

After an acrimonious and abrupt ending to this year’s session, Florida legislative leaders have started piecing together a framework for a new state budget and to avoid a possible state government shutdown. Some of that framework was discussed in an all-day meeting Wednesday between Sen. Tom Lee and Rep. Richard Corcoran. Gov. Rick Scott for […]

Christine Jordan SextonMay 13, 2015

The Department of Health and Human Services needs to be more transparent when it comes to approving sweeping Medicaid 1115 Demonstration waivers, a report by the U.S. Government Accountability Office asserts. The 69-page GAO report recommends increased transparency in the management of billions dollars spent on health care. It says the Department of Health and […]

Christine Jordan SextonMay 12, 2015

As the rhetoric around Medicaid funding grows louder, Florida hospitals caught in a Medicaid financing war between the state and federal government are beginning to brace for what an austere state budget might mean. On Tuesday Gov. Rick Scott met with members of the Florida congressional delegation to update them on Florida’s “battle” with the Obama […]

Christine Jordan SextonMay 12, 2015

Gov. Rick Scott‘s idea that Florida hospitals share profits to brace for the loss of a $2.2 billion health care financing program is not being warmly received by the the Legislature, which is in charge of allocating Medicaid funding. House Speaker Steve Crisafulli said in a statement Monday that there are “other solutions available that […]

Christine Jordan SextonMay 12, 2015

Sen. David Simmons on Tuesday sent a memo to Florida lawmakers along with an optional editorial he wrote for the Orlando Sentinel calling the Senate’s proposal to expand health care a “path to Medicaid extinction.” In his memo, Simmons said there are “many misconceptions about the Senate’s healthcare plan,” and attached his editorial that was […]

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For-profit hospitals ask Rick Scott to increase taxes on them

Special session called by Senate and House and it’s wide open on health care, budget

What will Rick Scott do with base budget he’s preparing?

Rick Scott tells agencies to list “critical needs” in case of shutdown

Rick Scott demands financial details from hospitals, HMOs

Budget details emerge after top lawmakers meet informally in Tallahassee

GAO report calls for more transparency with Medicaid 1115 waivers

Rick Scott goes to Washington to talk LIP (again) as hospitals prepare for austere year

Rick Scott’s profit-sharing idea gets no love from Legislature, hospitals

David Simmons calls Senate health plan “a path to Medicaid extinction”