Hillsborough cuts health care for repeat felons (Florida)

[Judi Lynn]

Posted on Fri, Apr. 08, 2005

Hillsborough cuts health care for repeat felons
Associated Press

TAMPA, Fla. - Three-time felons will lose access to an indigent health care program under a policy approved by officials in one of Florida's largest counties.

Hillsborough County Commission voted for the policy 5-2 Wednesday. The county is cutting corners to avert a deficit in the $97 million Hillsborough HealthCare Plan, which is funded by a half-penny sales tax.

Two months ago, the plan's financial crisis prompted commissioners to temporarily eliminate eye exams and routine dental work and refuse patients who need catastrophic care.
(snip)

Commissioner Tom Scott said he wanted assurances that a felon who had reformed could eventually win back the benefit, which promotes preventive care and use of clinics instead of hospitals.

"You punish somebody forever. I have a real problem with that," Scott said.
(snip/...)

http://www.bradenton.com/mld/bradenton/news/local/11342738.htm

[leftofcool]

1. I have a big problem with this...............

please define "felon." Does that mean someone arrested 3 times for possession of pot??????????

Left of Cool

[liberalnurse]

8. If one is convicted of a felony

crime...yes. Any crime that rises to at a minimum, 4th degree felony.....

[TreasonousBastard]

2. I understand the budget problems, but...

refusing health care to anyone is still morally repugnant.

(And most likely counterproductive.)

[marmar]

3. What's next?

Dungeons? Florida is really going back-asswards. (Apologies to my Floridian friends)

[0007]

4. Why does Florida plan to torture 'Three-time felons'?

Why don't they just euthanize any person on their third offense and save a lot of money? :shrug: Duh! I think the answer would be that it wouldn't be a Christian thing to do.

[ZR2]

5. Okay, so don't become a 3 time felon

and you don't have to worry about it.

[Mandate My Ass]

11. Healthcare is not a privelege to be revoked at will

It's a basic human right although they sure work hard to promote the idea that it's not.

They're not just hurting the felon but the felon's family and community as well. Oh well, they're just poor people so who cares?

[wakeme2008]

6. A little history

The people in Hillsborough pay 1/2 cent sales tax to fund this. Before Bush, this 1/2 sales tax had a good surplus and they were talking about lowering it down to 1/4 cent. But then along came Bush. More people without medical, fast rising drug and hospital costs.. The standard Bush stories.

As for the three strikes, what they do not want to point out, is most of these three strikers are people with mental problems. If they are on their meds, they do not cause problems. They get off their meds, they break laws. The end result will be more crime because the govt refuses to pay for the meds.

[liberalnurse]

7. They will just go back to jail

and get their care straight from Hills borough County with free room, board, a lactose free diet( this is a popular aggravation inmates do now a days), or they are hypoglycemic and need extra snacks and all meds they didn't take when they were on the outside.....Thats a good deal. It should cost the county a minimum of $75 a day....keep them 6 months.....do the math.

[liberalnurse]

9. It's amazing how they can so

efficiently track felons and can't count votes or track child support evasion or find child molestors.....

[BR_Parkway]

10. Florida? Home of "culture of life"? Would deny medical care?

after the entire dog and pony show during the past seven years over one woman?

Absolutely fecking amazing!

[Colorado Blue]

12. What is WRONG with this picture??????