Medicaid Reform Bill Out Thursday

A Medicaid reform bill will be unveiled Thursday during the Senate Health and Human Services Appropriations Subcommittee meeting, Sen. Joe Negron, R-Stuart, who chairs the committee, announced Wednesday.

The bill promises to save $1 billion in state and federal funds in the first year by cutting out some optional Medicaid services that have been added by the state over the years and giving patients greater control over their Medicaid dollars. Details of the bill won't be released until Thursday, but Sen. Don Gaetz, R-Niceville, said that recipients with unhealthy habits that lead to costly medical conditions -- smoking, drinking or eating excessively -- would be encouraged to join programs that promote healthier habits.

Negron said he is looking for greater flexibility from the federal government in operating a program that is taking up nearly 30 percent of the state budget.

"The current system is unsustainable. We have a situation where Washington has really commandeered our state budget, because we don't know how much Medicaid is going to cost from year to year. We know it's growing much faster than any other part of the budget," Negron said.

Full story to follow.

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