Bill would limit Federal funding for Florida Medicaid pilot program

Florida Rep. Elaine Schwartz (D) has proposed a bill that seeks to limit the funding of a Medicaid pilot program that some say has led to delays in access to care, the AP/Miami Herald reports (AP/Miami Herald, 3/2).

Under the pilot program, which covers most Medicaid beneficiaries in five Florida counties, the state pays private insurers a set amount for covering a specific number of residents and the companies determine what benefits and coverage network they will offer. An Associated Press analysis indicated that physicians are dropping out of the program and there is little evidence to show that the program saves money (Kaiser Daily Health Policy Report, 2/26). Broward County officials, the largest of the five county participants, recently passed a resolution seeking to end its participation in the program, citing complaints in delayed medical treatment.

The proposal seeks to prohibit the state Agency for Health Care Administration from receiving CMS funding for the program. Schwartz said she would have introduced legislation that would have ended the pilot program altogether, but the deadline had passed. Schwartz said that limiting AHCA's access to CMS funding "was the only club I had to make this statement. This is a program that not only should not be expanded but should be stopped because innocent people who need medical care are being injured."

In a statement on Monday, AHCA said that it "will continue to evaluate all components of the pilot and make appropriate revisions to ensure access to medical services for Medicaid beneficiaries. Of course, the Florida Legislature can take whatever action they deem appropriate" (AP/Miami Herald, 3/2).