State Sen. Joe Negron, R-Palm City, released the first draft of his long-awaited Medicaid reform bill today. Among the provisions: new limits on Florida’s “medically needy” program. #
The medically needy program provides care for patients, such as recipients of organ transplants, who are not poor enough to qualify for Medicaid but who face high medical expenses they cannot afford to cover themselves. (See this brochure from the Department of Children and Families for details.) #
Negron’s bill would limit the program to doctors’ visits for patients other than children and pregnant women. Sen. Nan Rich, D-Sunrise, has warned that “people could die” under the proposal. #
Floridians covered by the medically needy program probably won’t be able to afford their medications and other treatment any other way, she told members of the health appropriations subcommittee Thursday. #
Negron said lawmakers need to come up with a way to cut $1.4 billion. ”What other things are we going to reduce in the budget?” he asked Rich. #
Rich responded that the state would probably wind up paying for “medically needy” patients anyway when they show up in emergency rooms. #
