Florida Lawmakers Approve $1B in Cuts to Final State Budget, Including $146M from Health and Human Services Programs

Florida lawmakers on Dec. 6 approved a budget plan that cuts about $146 million in health and social services spending, the AP/South Florida Sun-Sentinel reports (Royse, AP/South Florida Sun-Sentinel, 12/6). Faced with a $1 billion state budget shortfall, lawmakers met in a 10-day special session beginning Nov. 27 to reconcile the differences in budgets passed by the state House and Senate (Kaiser Daily Health Policy Report, 11/27). To reach an accord, the Republican-led Senate "reluctantly" agreed to delay a tax cut that was passed last spring and scheduled to take effect Jan. 1. This "freed up" about $130 million, lessening the severity of the cuts and delaying some cuts until next year (AP/South Florida Sun-Sentinel, 12/6). For example, cuts in Medicaid benefits for eyeglasses, dental care and hearing aids will be delayed until July 1, the end of the fiscal year. In addition, the Legislature-approved budget would fund the state's Medically Needy program, which assists those who have "exhausted their own insurance," through the end of the fiscal year. After that, only pregnant women and children will qualify for coverage (Ulferts, St. Petersburg Times, 12/7). If the economy "picks up," however, those cuts may not be needed (AP/South Florida Sun-Sentinel, 12/6). The budget also means that 300 vacancies at state health programs will not be filled. In addition, the budget would cut about $7.4 million, or 20%, from the state's "much vaunted youth anti-smoking program" (Kaiser Daily Health Policy Report, 12/3). The budget cuts also affect a prescription drug program for low-income seniors (Kleindienst/Hollis, South Florida Sun-Sentinel, 12/7). Gov. Jeb Bush (R), who helped broker the deal, is expected to sign the plan (St. Petersburg Times, 12/7).