Florida Legislators Propose $390M in Health Program Cuts

Florida lawmakers have put hundreds of health care programs on the "chopping block," hoping to give Gov. Jeb Bush (R) "the message that the human toll of squeezing the budget and cutting taxes ... is going to be miserably high," the Miami Herald reports. Bush's proposed budget sets aside $25 million for "projects he and lawmakers will agree are the most worthy" and calls for $313 million in tax cuts. In addition, however, the state faces a Medicaid budget shortfall expected to reach $1 billion by June. Support for tax cuts "remains strong" in the state House, but there is a "lack of enthusiasm" in the state Senate, according to the Herald. Last week, the Senate Appropriations health and human services subcommittee spent two days making cuts and "reluctantly" endorsed some of Bush's ideas to reach the $390 million in cuts Bush wants. The recommended cuts include:

$115 million from the Medically Needy program, which reimburses hospitals for caring for uninsured families with high medical bills that would not qualify for Medicaid in absence of those bills;
$11.2 million from a juveniles' drug treatment program;
$15 million from 53 community programs that assist foster, abused or autistic children, drug and alcohol abusers, the mentally ill and teenage mothers; and
$37 million from a medical assistance program for "poor," uninsured pregnant women.

For his part, Bush maintains that the various health and human services projects "have not been forced to prove that they succeed." But state Sen. Debby Sanderson (R) said, "This is the hardest job in the Florida Legislature because the choices are horrendous. I would be reluctant to say anything about tax relief one way or the other. Who wouldn't like tax relief? But we also have to look at the responsibility that the state has as a public entity." Making such dramatic cuts to "force a full-throated public debate over priorities ... seemed to be part of the Senate's strategy," the Herald reports, adding that legislators appeared to be asking if it makes sense "to cut prenatal care for poor pregnant women so Bush can give middle- and upper-class Floridians another helping of tax relief." The Legislature's annual session begins in two weeks (Bousquet, Miami Herald, 2/18). This is part of the Morning Briefing, a summary of health policy coverage from major news organizations. Sign up for an email subscription.

Florida Legislators Propose $390M in Health Program Cuts

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