October 14, 2009

Medicaid Isn't to Blame

As new figures are released on our state’s financial health, all fingers are pointed towards Medicaid as the culprit behind our looming deficits. Cuts to the program that provides health care to more than 2 million of Florida’s lowest-income children, seniors and disabled citizens loom even as Congress moves forward with proposals to greatly expand Medicaid for the future. Medicaid isn't the problem, nor is slashing it the solution. The Legislature has other solutions available. (Laura Goodhue, Executive Director, Florida CHAIN) Read more

Why the Legislature Owes Medicaid

Despite the State's budget woes, Florida's Medicaid program has so far escaped serious cuts thanks to the federal stimulus legislation. Florida will receive a total of $5+ billion in extra Medicaid funding for the 27 months ending December 2010. But while appropriately protecting Medicaid with part of the stimulus money, the Legislature also misused short-term funds as a replacement for long-term State funding. As a result, next year (2010-11), leaders say Florida's Medicaid budget is headed for a “cliff” once the stimulus money stops flowing. The fact is, the Legislature intentionally created that cliff and is now preparing to throw Medicaid recipients over the edge. Click here for an explanation of what happened and how it can still be fixed. (Greg Mellowe, Florida CHAIN)

Extra Foot on the Scale: Overstating the Burden of Medicaid Expansion on Florida's Budget

Critics of the health care reform proposals moving through Congress have been sounding the alarm about one component - the proposed Medicaid expansion – that they say could bankrupt the States. That claim is simply not valid, however. In particular, it isn't valid for Florida. The expansion would help Florida immensely. (Greg Mellowe, Florida CHAIN) Read more 

Affordability Still in Question as Health Reform Heads to House and Senate Floors

National Health Care Reform Call-in Day: October 20

The House and Senate have made great progress in drafting a comprehensive bill to fix our health care system. But it’s not over till the President has a real reform bill on his desk - a bill that offers affordable, accessible care with protection from tragic exclusions and lapses.

Make Three Calls on October 20:

Senator Bill Nelson: 202-224-5274

Senator George LeMieux: 202-224-3041

Call and ask for your Member of Congress: 202-224-3121 

Tell them it’s time to deliver on health care. We cannot afford to wait.

 Year 4: Information Still Scarce in Medicaid Reform

AHCA's recently overhauled Medicaid managed care contracts now require that Medicaid Reform HMOs not only post their “Preferred Drug Lists” on their websites, but also meaningful provider network directories, member handbooks and other information that enrollees need. The stronger requirement seems to back up AHCA's claims that the new contracts will increase accountability by plans. But even when requirements were weaker, the bigger problem was a lack of enforcement of what was required. So far with the new contracts, it's generally more of the same. (Greg Mellowe, Florida CHAIN) Read more 

Free Market “Solution” Seeks Freedom from Accountability

The 2008 bill that created the Governor's Cover Florida initiative also created Florida Health Choices. The private, non-profit Florida Health Choices Corporation will create an Internet “marketplace” where insurers can sell bits and pieces of real health coverage with minimal regulations. Unfortunately, the Corporation's first step towards evading “unnecessary burdens” like consumer protections was to evade accountability for its taxpayer-funded operations. (Greg Mellowe, Florida CHAIN) Read more

Florida Covering Kids and Families Receives Federal Grant to Reduce State's Uninsured  

The Florida Covering Kids and Families Initiative, a project of the Lawton and Rhea Chiles Center for Healthy Mothers and Babies has received almost one million dollars in grant funds from the US Department of Health and Human Services’ Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. The funds will be used to increase enrollment and retention in Florida KidCare, the state’s child health insurance program.  (Patrick Cannon, PhD, Florida Covering Kids & Families) Read more

Multiple Sclerosis without Health Coverage Leads to Debt and Family Strain

I have lived in Miami all my life. At 22, I live with my parents and my two sisters, who are 16 and 21.  I also live with Multiple Sclerosis, and need hospital care when I lose my balance and my vision. My father works, my mother is disabled, and I have no health insurance. Although I've accumulated $10,000 in debt from six emergency visits, the hospital would not even let me apply for assistance from them because my father earns more than $24,000 a year. (Sheenika Toussaint) Read more

Publicize Your National Health Care Reform Events With Us, and Check Out Our New Resources

With National Health Care Reform dominating our agendas, Florida CHAIN is now sending out bulletins to publicize national health care reform efforts all around Florida. So add us to your distribution list or forward the information to lisag@floridachain.org so we can help you spread the word. And check out the frequently updated Health Care Reform Sections on our Events and Resources pages.

Support Florida CHAIN

Florida CHAIN is a non-profit organization supported by foundations, corporations and individual donations. If you are interested in becoming a sponsor of our CHAIN Reaction e-newsletter or value our work and would like to make a donation, please click here or call Lisa Grossman at 954-986-6535 for more information.