Democratic members of the Florida House are asking for an accounting of the number of Floridians who’ve lost access to health services following the federal government’s rollback of Medicaid eligibility after the end of the COVID-19 emergency.
Since that process started in May, 524,076 Floridians have been bumped from the program, according to a House Democratic analysis of the Florida Agency for Health Care Administration’s monthly reports. The Florida Phoenix also looked at the monthly reports and health care policy groups have called out these numbers for months.
State Rep. Kelly Skidmore, a Democrat representing part of Palm Beach County, and Robin Bartleman of Broward County said they sent a letter Friday morning to House Speaker Paul Renner and Reps. Randy Fine and Sam Garrison — who chair the Health & Human Services Committee and the Health Care Appropriations subcommittee, respectively — asking for a House oversight committee hearing on the matter.
Meanwhile, the Florida Senate is holding a committee hearing on Wednesday on the “Medicaid Redeterminations Updates,” according to legislative documents. The Agency for Health Care Administration, the Department of Children and Families and Florida Healthy Kids Corporation are listed. Thus far, the Senate Appropriations Committee on Health and Human Services has not provided an expanded agenda that would allow lawmakers and the public to see what would be said.
In response to Florida Phoenix’s inquiry on the potential oversight hearing, Fine wrote: “When I was a little kid, I wanted a pony. But we don’t always get what we want.”
During the Democrats’ news conference, Skidmore said: “Working-class Floridians are the ones who are suffering the most as the state of Florida continues the Medicaid unwinding process. The Florida House must exercise oversight and do the right thing to hold state agencies accountable if they are not fulfilling their duties.”
She added, “I’m happy to see to see that the Senate prioritized this issue by scheduling a committee hearing … but the House has a role to play here too. We shouldn’t depend on the Senate to be the sole source of accountability in state government.”
Uninsured youth
Of the Floridians who have lost coverage, almost half are 20 years old or younger. In Broward, 23,488 people in that age group lost Medicaid coverage, according to the Democratic analysis. In Palm Beach, the number is more than 15,000.
“My colleagues in the Legislature want to ensure that Florida’s children are healthy. Children need access to health care. I can’t fathom what parents are going through, especially with children with critical conditions like diabetes,” Bartleman said.
She is the Democratic ranking member of the Healthcare Regulation Subcommittee.
“As parents, we all know far too well that childhood illnesses or children will be exposed to from ear infections costs and the flu. … We are simply asking for a check and balance system. It hurts to know that so many children and families are going through terrible times just because of the rush to unwind Medicaid.”
Skidmore, the Democratic ranking member on the House Health & Human Services Committee, said a hearing would also present an important opportunity for representatives to get answers from the secretaries of the Florida Agency for Health Care Administration and the Florida Department of Children and Families.
Additionally, the Democratic House members called for Gov. Ron DeSantis’ administration to expand the DCF call center, which a person can call to check on the status of their coverage, and accept federal waivers to minimize procedural terminations. Those terminations happen when someone loses coverage even if they are still eligible.
Skidmore and Bartleman suggested adding the Medicaid issue to the relevant agendas when the House holds committee meetings the week of Oct. 16.
This article originally appeared in florida phoenix