Health & Science

Orlando Seniors First To Go Into Medicaid Managed Care

Lynn Hatter — Mon, 06 May 2013 20:46:09 +0000

Low-income seniors living in and around Orlando will be the first entrants into the state’s Medicaid managed care program.

The state will begin an outreach program in the next few months to get eligible seniors enrolled. It’s the latest move in the state’s effort to save money by effectively privatizing the Medicaid program.

Senate Approves Medicaid Expansion With Little Time Left To Reach Deal With House

Lynn Hatter — Mon, 29 Apr 2013 22:22:51 +0000

The Florida Senate has officially narrowed the list of Medicaid alternative plans pending in the legislature from three, to two.

Lawmakers in the upper chamber okayed a proposal that would draw down some $51 billion in federal money to allow an additional million low-income people to purchase plans. Bill sponsor, Republican Senator Joe Negron of Stewart, says his proposal is not an extension of the current Medicaid program.

House Approves Medicaid Alternative But Issue Could Be Dead This Session

Lynn Hatter — Fri, 26 Apr 2013 23:02:29 +0000

The chances of insuring more low-income Floridians is fading. Florida lawmakers could adjourn the 2013 legislative session next Friday without an agreement on accepting $50 billion dollars from the federal government to insure a million more poor Floridians.

New Law Brings An End To Long-Running 'Eyeball Wars'

Lynn Hatter — Mon, 22 Apr 2013 17:17:10 +0000

Florida’s optometrists now have more authority in prescribing medications under a bill signed into law Monday. The new law brings a decades-long battle between optometrists and ophthalmologists to a close.

House Poised to Approve "Free Market" Medicaid Expansion Alternative

Lynn Hatter — Fri, 19 Apr 2013 21:41:55 +0000

Under the federal health law states have the option to expand their Medicaid programs to include more low-income people. A million more Floridians are eligible for Medicaid under the law. The legislature rejected the expansion in favor of state-based solutions. Earlier in the week a Senate panel endorsed two alternative proposals to the expansion and Friday it was the House’s turn.