Florida Lawmakers Close to Budget Deal that Would Restore Some Medicaid Cuts

After "scrambling to work out differences" on the state budget last weekend, Florida lawmakers are "close to agreement" on a plan that would allow them to avoid making cuts in the state's Medicaid program budget, the AP/Tallahassee Democrat reports. During a April 28 meeting in which Senate and House members tried to reconcile their versions of the health and human services budget, members of the state Senate health and human services committee learned that the state House would "accept" their proposal to restore $35 million in Medicaid funds for coverage of dental, vision and hearing care. The state Senate also has "pushed" state House legislators to restore money for Medicaid services and maintain existing eligibility levels. The House had passed a budget with more than $350 million in tax cuts, as well as cuts in Medicaid-related services (Royse, AP/Tallahassee Democrat, 4/29). Senate members also had endorsed Medicaid cuts, prompted by the state's $944 million Medicaid budget shortfall and Gov. Jeb Bush's (R) $313 million tax cut request (Kaiser Daily Health Policy Report, 3/13). Since then, however, the House and Senate have agreed to $175 million in tax cuts, making funding restoration possible. Senate President John McKay (R) said, "Not a single person (who) is currently covered by Medicaid will not be covered next year." Lawmakers from both chambers also are "close to agreeing on a plan" that would shift money from a program for purchasing "environmentally sensitive lands" into spending for education and health care. State legislators hope to draft a final budget by May 1 (Royse, AP/Tallahassee Democrat, 4/29).