Scott administration eyes hospitals in proposed Medicaid spending cuts
TALLAHASSEE -- Florida Gov. Rick Scott’s administration continues to target hospitals for potential Medicaid spending reductions in the coming year.
The Agency for Health Care Administration’s top four proposed budget cuts for the Legislature to consider during the 2018 session would reduce Medicaid payments to hospitals by nearly $1 billion. Those reductions would be on top of nearly $500 million in recurring cuts made to hospitals during the 2017 session.
“It would be devastating, for goodness sakes,” said Jan Gorrie, a hospital lobbyist and managing partner of the Tampa office of Ballard Partners. “I’m surprised to see the magnitude of the cut. It’s mind-blowing. It’s like, whoa.”
In addition to a list of proposed reductions for the Legislature to consider, AHCA also submitted its proposed budget requests for the upcoming year. It includes a request for an additional $66 million to cover a deficit in the Children’s Medical Services managed-care plan for the current year. The deficit is a result of lower enrollment in the Medicaid specialty plan than anticipated.
Read more: http://www.palmbeachpost.com/news/state--regional-govt--politics/scott-administration-eyes-hospitals-proposed-medicaid-spending-cuts/QTwUhjf9DCJ0DCSngXduOM/