Medicaid

Advocates praised lawmakers' decision to beef up funding for the program, which helps developmentally disabled people select needed services, but worry about a shortage of providers unless there are pay increases, which wasn't part of the budget proposal.

The state learned this week that it will receive about $400 million in additional federal Medicaid funds, but lawmakers so far haven’t included it in a proposed budget they are trying to finalize.

Lawmakers have roughly three weeks to reach agreement on a budget, a period coinciding with an expected increase in Medicaid funding from the federal government.

A group of lawmakers in the state House of Representatives from both parties stood together and said they want to extend the 60 days of Medicaid coverage after birth.

Similar to the Senate proposal, the House health care plan recommends reducing Medicaid payments for inpatient and outpatient hospital care by $288 million.

It would allow for mothers to receive Medicaid coverage for a full year, rather than the current two months.

The $1.9 trillion American Rescue Plan would cover 90% of the cost to enroll an estimated 800,000 Floridians in Medicaid and increase the federal pay rate for all Medicaid enrollees for the next two years.

The federal government temporarily boosted Medicaid reimbursement rates during the pandemic, and the Biden administration extended that until the end of the year. Some hospitals worry the extra money could affect the state's allocations to the program for the next year.

Florida lawmakers are facing a $2 billion budget shortfall. To fill that gap, Senate President Wilton Simpson says “everything is on the table.”

COVID-19 will be top of mind as the Florida Legislature begins its 2021 session. These will be the main topics they'll address.

One executive order opens a special enrollment period for the Affordable Care Act from Feb. 15 to May 15.

The budget proposal would increase funding for public schools and target environmental projects, including Everglades restoration, despite shortfalls from the coronavirus pandemic.