This week, as I travelled around the state talking with healthcare providers, hospitals and patient advocates, I got the same message over and over.  Florida’s safety net system is headed for the most difficult year yet and the state needs health care reform.

Medicaid enrollment continues to climb with increases in unemployment yet severe cuts to programs that serve very low income children, disabled and elderly are in jeopardy.   It is these programs that will once again be on the chopping block if Florida legislators continue to raid Medicaid to fund other projects. Meanwhile, census data recently released demonstrate that one in four Floridians will continue to lack coverage, driving up the costs of premiums for the uninsured and further burdening our hospital emergency rooms.

Unfortunately, many state legislators have failed to embrace national healthcare proposals that would fully fund an increase in Medicaid expansion to cover 1.2 million Floridians and provide options for small businesses to provide insurance. Instead, their response has been to propose yet another symbolic constitutional amendment to gain political points around an irrational fear that Floridians will be forced into government run health care.

State lawmakers would better serve the public health system by working with doctors, hospitals, and patient advocates to address the faulty Medicaid system through cost and quality initiatives such as the Medical Homes model. Instead of proposing more cuts to the Medicaid program, they should re-direct the $5 billion in healthcare stimulus funds that will run out in 2011 and almost $1 billion from the increase in the cigarette tax to fund healthcare.

While Florida’s Congressional delegation must work hard to address shortcomings in current national proposals such as the affordability standards and physician reimbursement rates, Florida’s state lawmakers should work with Washington to address the unique needs of Florida instead of diverting health funds and adding to the opposition’s rhetoric. 

Laura Goodhue, Executive Director, Florida CHAIN