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Christine Jordan Sexton - page 24

Christine Jordan Sexton has 329 articles published.

House budget eliminates LIP but assumes local dollars will be sent up to fund health care

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When the Florida House unveiled its budget in March leaders said it contained no supplemental Medicaid dollars that are used to help finance Florida hospitals called the Low Income Pool. But the budget contains about $800 million in “hospital rate enhancements.” Although the enhancements are not technically part of the LIP program they are funded with local tax dollars that are sent to the state for the program. The assumption is local intergovernmental transfers will continue to be sent to the…

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Health care impasse is a problem for the “image of the Republican Party in America,” Tom Lee says

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Senate Appropriations Chairman Tom Lee said on Tuesday that he had a face-to-face meeting with Gov. Rick Scott Monday night, the first one of the session focusing on the substantive difference between the Senate and the governor’s office on the health care financing impasse. Lee told reporters that Scott initiated the meeting and that he went down to the governor’s office. While there wasn’t anything “illuminating” Lee said he was grateful for the conversation.  “I think everyone is realizing this…

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Senate has $600 million in reserves it can pump into health care, Andy Gardiner says

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Senate President Andy Gardiner released a statement on Tuesday saying that the Senate may use $600 million available in reserves to fund healthcare programs in the 2015-16 fiscal year year budget. In a statement, Gardiner said the $600 million could be used to draw down federal matching Medicaid dollars and used to offset a projected $1.5 billion in hospital losses if no Low Income Pool program was available. The money also could be used to help offset $200 million in…

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Feds have until July 4 week to give Florida an answer on Medicaid amendment

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Florida’s budget showdown over hospital funding may not get resolved until mid-summer, thanks to a little-noticed series of deadlines that accompany the state’s official request to draw down billions in healthcare funding. The decision by the Agency for Health Care Administration Secretary Liz Dudek on Monday to propose an amendment to the the existing Medicaid waiver and to solicit written input on the proposed amendment triggered time requirements that mean that legislators may not know the fate of the Low Income…

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Step therapy amendment added to latest healthcare train bill

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A Senate committee tagged a controversial healthcare bill to a measure expanding the scope of practice for Florida’s nurses, a priority for the Florida House this year. The Senate Rules Committee on Monday committee agreed to tack on an amendment to CS/CS/SB 614, which would allow doctors to override step therapy protocols within 24 hours if a physician believes, based on sound medical evidence, that the step therapy treatment would be ineffective or would cause an adverse reaction. Former Senate President Don Gaetz…

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Texas Gov. Greg Abbott says he supports Rick Scott’s decision to sue feds over Medicaid

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Texas Gov. Greg Abbott on Monday said he supports a move by Florida Gov. Rick Scott to sue the federal government over souring Medicaid negotiations. In a press release issued by Abbott’s office the governor said that he “commends” Scott’s decision to take legal action and “Texas will support Florida in its litigation against the federal government.” “Florida’s approach should be determined by Floridians, not coerced by federal bureaucrats,” Abbott said in the release. It’s not exactly clear what “support”…

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Despite bluster, Rick Scott administration moves ahead with hospital plan

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Gov. Rick Scott’s administration is taking steps to try to win federal approval of a plan to draw down federal health funds after being criticized for not doing enough to ensure supplemental hospital funding will flow to the state. The Agency for Health Care Administration has scheduled three, two-hour meetings in Orlando, Miami and Tallahassee on April 29, April 30 and May 1, respectively, to take public testimony on an amendment to its sweeping Medicaid 1115 waiver. The amendment is…

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