An exasperated incoming Senate President Mike Haridopolos, concluding a three-day tour of medical facilities across the state, vowed to do everything in his power to improve a broken Medicaid system.
With approximately $20 billion of Floridas $70 billion annual budget going to Medicaid, the Merritt Island Republican said the system is spiraling out of control -- and pointed blame at new federal health-care laws backed by President Barack Obama and medical malpractice lawsuits.
During a Friday afternoon press conference at the Florida Press Center in Tallahassee, Haridopolos said, The fact is that Obamacare substantially expands Floridas Medicaid system by adding a projected 1.4 million people to an already overburdened system. As members of the Florida Legislature, we consistently hear from Medicaid patients, but we wanted to go on this tour and bring the Capitol to the people who are on the front lines of the health-care crisis.
Haridopolos said the new laws can lead to a large amount of the state population being on Medicaid.
Were looking at potentially one in four Floridians being in the system, he said, adding that this means the other three Floridians will have to pay for it.
Joined by Sen. Don Gaetz, R-Fort Walton Beach, and Sen. Joe Negron, R-Palm City, Haridopolos focused on improving the quality of care, access and costs during the tour. The senators toured facilities in Brandon, Clewiston, Gainesville, Miami, Orlando, Tallahassee and Tampa. Other members of the Legislature joined Haridopolos, Gaetz and Negron to participate in round-table discussions at each of the stops.
Its been an eventful three days, said Haridopolos at the tours conclusion.
He criticized the new federal laws, maintaining the measures create 159 new agencies and the entire system is centered around government.
Flanked by his wife, Stephanie, a physician, as well as by Gaetz and Negron, Haridopolos said that needed to change. We think it should be patient-centered health care, he said.
Gaetz focused his critique of Floridas Medicaid system on expanding costs. The answer is not more money despite what they say in Tallahassee, he said. What we heard is criticism of a system that doesnt work because resources are spent the wrong way.
Theres no back-end cost control in the current system, said Gaetz. Weve doubled the amount of dollars weve spent and we certainly have not doubled the effectiveness of the program.
Criticizing the high costs of malpractice insurance, the senators said tort reform is an important part of keeping medical and Medicaid costs down.
What weve consistently heard during these round-table discussions is that doctors who have protections against malpractice lawsuits have the ability to deliver a higher quality of care to their patients, said Haridopolos. A key component to reforming our states Medicaid system is addressing tort reform and ensuring that primary care doctors are not discouraged from treating Medicaid patients because of malpractice suits.
Haridopolos said tort reform will be a high priority of the Legislature. For us to take it off the table is silly, he said. It has to be on the table.
Negron praised the medical services being performed. The medical care is topnotch and Im proud of it." Negron said the system needs more flexibility, allowing Medicaid patients more of a choice.
Flexibility and the ability to choose between plans is essential, agreed Haridopolos.
Asked if federal dollars will be coming to help the states Medicaid through the FMAP funds, Haridopolos said that members of Congress told him they don't know when the vote will be scheduled.
Its clear that we must identify new and better ways to control costs while working to improve access to quality care, said incoming Speaker Dean Cannon, R-Winter Park, a key legislative ally to Haridopolos, who attended the event in Miami. We must also monitor the progress of the current federal health-care reform legislation, which we know will have a profound impact on every aspect of health-care financing and service delivery, including our efforts to reform Medicaid here in Florida."
Added Cannon, "I share Senator Haridopolos belief in letting patients make decisions surrounding their own medical care, and I applaud him for investing the time and resources necessary to facilitate this important discussion. By continuing to provide all stakeholders a seat at the table, we can ensure that a comprehensive reform plan will meet the needs of patients and health-care providers while living within the means of the resources provided by the state and federal government.
Haridopolos agreed with Cannon that the tour allowed Floridians to take part in discussions on Medicaid.
Health policy experts can usually find their way to Tallahassee to express their views, said Haridopolos. We had the advantage of hearing from people who work every day on the front lines of patient care and who deal with the real problems of quality, access and affordability. Were committed to continuing the conversation with physicians, nurses, consumer advocates, small-business owners who pay health premiums, and patients and families.
House Democratic Leader Franklin Sands of Plantation took aim at the way Haridopolos conducted the tour, saying that consumers are being left out and the incoming Senate president is using the opportunity to bash the new federal health-care laws to score political points.
All stakeholders, especially those representing consumers, should have a fair opportunity to participate in any talks that may lead to legislative proposals for reforming Floridas health-care programs, said Sands.
Sands also defended the new federal health-care laws.
Federal health reforms are a good thing for Florida, its taxpayers and the states vulnerable population, he said. I understand that any expansion of services will increase the states share of Medicaid only marginally and gradually. Besides, there are savings to be reached under the federal reform package. I hope future discussions of Floridas health care systems include all the facts and will be presented in a fair, nonpartisan fashion.
Reach Kevin Derby at kderby@sunshinestatenews.com or at (850) 727-0859.
