Florida lawmakers have blocked a bill that would have cut $123 million in Medicaid funding from state hospitals starting July 1, according to a News-Press report.
Florida hospitals were required to come up with $45 million to make up for a shortfall in intergovernmental transfers, essentially local funding from hospital taxing districts, among other places. If hospitals failed to come up with the funding by May 31, they would lose $78 million in federal matching funds for Medicaid, bringing the total amount of cuts to $123 million.
Florida hospitals, including 100 members of the Florida Hospital Association, protested the measure, which forced Florida's Agency for Health Care Administration to push back the deadline. The state legislature's move now prohibits ACHA from implementing the cuts. The local funding shortfall can be covered through other Medicaid funding available to the ACHA, said House Health Care Appropriations Chairman Matt Hudson (R-Naples).
Still, Florida hospitals face a 12 percent cut in Medicaid payments in the coming year. The measure was passed in the previous legislative session.
Read the news report about Medicaid funding in Florida.
Related Articles on Florida Medicaid:
Florida Governor Signs Medicaid Overhaul, Shifts Program to Managed Care
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Florida Legislature Approves Medicaid Overhaul, Shift to Managed Care
Florida hospitals were required to come up with $45 million to make up for a shortfall in intergovernmental transfers, essentially local funding from hospital taxing districts, among other places. If hospitals failed to come up with the funding by May 31, they would lose $78 million in federal matching funds for Medicaid, bringing the total amount of cuts to $123 million.
Florida hospitals, including 100 members of the Florida Hospital Association, protested the measure, which forced Florida's Agency for Health Care Administration to push back the deadline. The state legislature's move now prohibits ACHA from implementing the cuts. The local funding shortfall can be covered through other Medicaid funding available to the ACHA, said House Health Care Appropriations Chairman Matt Hudson (R-Naples).
Still, Florida hospitals face a 12 percent cut in Medicaid payments in the coming year. The measure was passed in the previous legislative session.
Read the news report about Medicaid funding in Florida.
Related Articles on Florida Medicaid:
Florida Governor Signs Medicaid Overhaul, Shifts Program to Managed Care
Florida Gov. Rick Scott Signs Budget, Cutting Hospital Medicaid Payments by 12%
Florida Legislature Approves Medicaid Overhaul, Shift to Managed Care