Florida House Approves Medicaid Overhaul; Governor To Consider Legislation

Main Category: Medicare / Medicaid / SCHIP
Article Date: 11 May 2005 - 10:00 PDT

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The Florida House on Friday voted 88-24 in favor of a bill that would restructure the state's Medicaid system, the... South Florida Sun-Sentinel reports (Hollis, South Florida Sun-Sentinel, 5/7). Under the proposal, the state would pay an amount per Medicaid beneficiary based on a person's health needs to an HMO or other health plan, which would have discretion over how to treat the beneficiary (Kaiser Daily Health Policy Report, 5/4). Florida Gov. Jeb Bush (R) and legislative leaders on Friday reached a deal whereby only a few counties would implement the changes initially. In return, Bush has a "guarantee" from legislators that the second phase would "likely be a full statewide implementation," according to the Sun-Sentinel. The bill nearly died because some state Senate members wanted a "go-slow approach," the Sun-Sentinel reports. The bill now moves to Bush. The federal government also must approve the plan before it can take effect (South Florida Sun-Sentinel, 5/7).

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