After agreeing with the Florida House of Representatives to slash $200 million from hospitals in the annual budget, the Florida Senate is urging the House to restore half of the cuts to hospitals, Tampa Bay Times reported.
These cuts, in addition to the decreasing federal Medicaid reimbursements, will leave hospitals over $500 million short. However, by reclaiming $100 million of the budget cuts, hospitals could get an additional $250 million in subsidized payments.
Sen. Anitere Flores, chair of the Senate health appropriations committee, is filling the legislation to restore the cuts to hospitals.
"There was an acknowledgement that the Legislature and the governor didn't quite get the budget right,'' said Mr. Flores, according to the report. "We said we need to come back and take a second stab" at the budget.