Medicaid Reform – Florida

Posted on May 9, 2011 by townsend

• Fla. lawmakers pass historic Medicaid overhaul, By Kelli Kennedy and Brent Kallestad (AP), May 6, 2011, Miami Herald: “Two historic bills enacting sweeping changes to Florida’s Medicaid program won Senate and House approval Friday, placing the care of nearly 3 million beneficiaries in the hands of private companies and hospital networks. The bills inject sorely needed accountability into a statewide managed care program that has faltered in its current state in five pilot counties. The plan’s detractors say for-profit providers are making money scrimping on patient care. Patients have complained they couldn’t get appointments with specialists. Several providers pulled out of the program, causing lapses in care as patients were bounced among plans. Sen. Joe Negron, who spearheaded the overhaul, said leaders have learned from the pilot program’s shortcomings and includes increased oversight and more stringent penalties, including fining providers up to $500,000 if they drop out. The bills (HB 7107 and HB 7109) also require providers to generate a 5 percent savings the first year, which could save the state about $1 billion…”
• Florida legislature passes massive Medicaid overhaul, By Jim Saunders, May 8, 2011, Kaiser Health News: “Arguing that the proposal will save tax dollars and improve patient care, Republican lawmakers Friday approved a massive overhaul of Florida’s Medicaid system. The proposal, which has been debated for more than year, would eventually shift hundreds of thousands of poor and elderly beneficiaries into HMOs and other types of managed-care plans. Supporters say that would hold down spiraling costs in the $20 billion program, while also improving a fragmented system of care. ‘We get to save billions of dollars, and we get to deliver better health care,’ said House sponsor Rep. Rob Schenck, R-Spring Hill. But the proposal drew opposition from Democrats, who questioned whether it would adequately hold HMOs accountable and whether it would stick Medicaid beneficiaries with costs they can’t afford…”