Senate Republicans Unveil Medicaid Reform Bill

Sen. Joe Negron, R-Stuart, released details of his Medicaid reform bill Thursday, which is expected to save more than $1 billion in a program that takes up nearly 30 percent of the state budget.

The bill will move Medicaid recipients into health plans run by managed-care companies, with a competitive bidding process overseen by the state Agency for Health Care Administration with guaranteed savings. The plans will be required to spend 90 percent of their Medicaid funds on health care, keeping administrative costs to a minimum. The bill also includes savings derived from increasing liability protections for physicians treating Medicaid patients and eliminating egregious lawsuits.

Medicaid is the only part of our budget for which we have no control when it comes to spending. The federal government makes the rules and then sends Florida the bill. We are determined not to allow the federal government to commandeer our budget, and this new plan will not only improve patient care but also save Florida $1.033 billion in the first year alone," Negron said.

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