Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Peter SchorschMay 1, 2017

With the end of the Legislative Session mercifully (hopefully?) in sight, the discrepancies between Senate and House budgets on various issues are becoming more heightened. At times like these, the two sides need to learn how to swallow their pride when it’s clear one chamber has the better plan. This lesson would serve them — […]

Scott PowersMay 1, 2017

The $1 trillion stop-gap budget deal congressional leaders have struck to keep the federal government open through September includes $295.9 million to shore up Medicaid in Puerto Rico, U.S. Rep. Darren Soto‘s office said Monday afternoon. That’s a little less than halfway between the $500 million congressional Democrats such as Soto were pushing for, and […]

Peter SchorschApril 25, 2017

Updated 2:45 p.m. — The House has sent over an offer and the Senate is reviewing, according to staffers in both chambers. — After teetering toward a late-session meltdown, the bones of a roughly $83 billion 2017-18 state budget are in place, according to three sources close to Gov. Rick Scott‘s office and several lobbyists familiar with […]

Scott PowersApril 18, 2017

In a letter sent today to U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Tom Price, Florida’s Democratic U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson called attention to Florida’s heroin and opioids crisis and sought answers on how Medicaid can do more. In his letter, Nelson declared that the heroin and opioid epidemic is “devastating Florida” and he encouraged Price […]

Michael MolineApril 12, 2017

The Trump administration is coming through with $1.5 million in new health care money for Florida, Gov. Rick Scott announced Wednesday as the House and Senate debated their rival spending plans for 2017-18. The money will finance Florida’s Low Income Pool, which reimburses hospitals that provide charity care. The infusion would “truly improve the quality […]

Guest AuthorApril 10, 2017

In an effort to protect their turf, the health plans behind Florida’s managed care program for Medicaid recipients keep saying they help many older Floridians move from nursing homes to live in community settings. What they fail to tell you is that these elders are just a small fraction of nursing home residents – the […]

Michael MolineApril 3, 2017

Representatives of hospitals that invest heavily in physician training and care for the indigent held a news conference Monday to protest plans in the Legislature to slash Medicaid re-imbursement rates. The cuts would undermine the state’s investments in training doctors, alliance members argued outside the Senate Office Building in Tallahassee. Under the Graduate Medical Education […]

Jenna Buzzacco-FoersterMarch 31, 2017

A new survey from the Florida Hospital Association shows strong support among Florida voters to keep — or in many increase — state funding for Medicaid programs. The survey, conducted by Public Opinion Strategies from March 1 through March 5, found Floridians have the most favorable opinion of Medicaid that the association has recorded in six years. […]

Joe HendersonMarch 30, 2017

While the business of governing requires tough choices and choosing between priorities that can be conflicting, sometimes it’s best to do what the people want. After all, it’s their money that is being spent. So, listen up, Tallahassee. On the subject of state Medicaid funding, the people — your bosses — appear to have spoken […]

Guest AuthorMarch 25, 2017

In 2011, the State of Florida elected to move long-term care (LTC) into the Statewide Medicaid Managed Care (SMMC) program, as the escalating costs of providing care at more institutional-style settings, like nursing homes, to an aging baby boomer population was creating a looming health care crisis. For most families, the decision to move a […]

Tag: Medicaid

Senate’s proposed hospital budget cuts, unlike House, spreads pain equally

Federal budget bill deal offers $296M for Puerto Rico Medicaid

State budget deal struck? Jack Latvala says, ‘no,’ but…

Bill Nelson presses Tom Price on Florida’s opioid crisis, Medicaid’s ability to fight it

Rick Scott, feds agree to $1.5B commitment for low income pool in Florida

Emmett Reed: Who best entrusted with senior care – caregivers or insurers?

Safety net hospitals decry Medicaid spending cuts planned for Florida

Poll: 45% of Florida voters would like to see increase in Medicaid funding

Joe Henderson: Psst … Tallahassee, you might want to actually listen to the people on this one

Audrey Brown: Long-term care key to quality of life for Florida Medicaid seniors