FMA Weighs in on Mike Haridopolos' Medicaid Tour

With incoming Senate President Mike Haridopolos, R-Merritt Island, launching his tour across the state on Wednesday to focus on Medicaid and health-care matters, Executive Vice President Timothy J. Stapleton of the Florida Medical Association (FMA) praised the senator for taking on these issues.

The FMA commends Senator Haridopolos efforts to reach out to health-care professionals and patients to identify new ways to improve access to care and control costs, said Stapleton. Thismeaningful initiative aims to make the Medicaid program more effective for patients and health-care professionals across the state. We are also pleased to hear that Speaker-designate Dean Cannon will be participating in this important tour.

But Stapleton also had words of warning.

The FMA remains concerned, however, about troubling proposals that have been introduced in previous legislative sessions that would turn the Medicaid program over to managed-care companies, he said. We are hopeful that the Florida Legislature will consider alternative approaches, including the Medical Home concept, Provider Service Networks (PSNs), and other models that would save money and improve patients access to care. It is imperative that we do not allow cost savings to come at the expense of patients health and well-being.

"Furthermore, in light of recent criminal investigations against some managed-care companies that have been accused of bilking the Medicaid system in Florida, we hope that legislators will proceed with caution before turning even more taxpayer money over to the managed-care industry, continued Stapleton. We urge legislators to hold managed-care companies that contract with the state of Florida accountable by imposing severe financial and criminal penalties against any company that either withholds information or fails to provide financial data in a timely manner.

The FMA encourages lawmakers to remain receptive to different opinions and ideas as we craft proposals to address Medicaid reform, closed Stapleton. We urge Floridas physicians to participate in this tour, which is a good first step toward rethinking the Medicaid reform issue.