What's Up With Medicaid Reform?

Senate Bill 848 has been submitted to Governor Jeb Bush for approval. It is uncertain at this time what action the Governor will take and it has been reported that he may not approve it at this time and call for a Special Session of the Legislature later this year to consider the issue of Medicaid Reform. Following is a brief summary of the Bill's contents.
SB 848: Medicaid Reform:: Medicaid: Provides for the Agency for Health Care Administration to expand certain pilot and demonstration project waivers under certain conditions; provides for integration of state funding to persons who are dually eligible for Medicare and Medicaid; requires the agency to provide a choice of managed care plans to recipients; provides requirements for managed care plans; permits the agency to withhold certain funding contingent upon the performance of a plan; requires the plan to rebate certain profits to the agency; authorizes the agency to limit the number of enrollees in a plan; provides for certain services in demonstration areas; provides for imposition of liquidated damages; permits modification of certificate-of-need conditions to nursing homes; requires integration of Medicare and Medicaid services; provides legislative intent; provides for awarding of funds for managed care delivery, contingent upon an appropriation; grants rule making authority to the agency; requires legislative authority to implement the waiver; provides for future review and repeal of the act.

Effective Date: July 1, 2005.The FSRC will be reporting on this Bill as events occur.

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Changes to the Medicaid Reform Pilot Project

There are proposed changes involving the Medicaid Reform Pilot Project that would affect all current Florida Licensed Medicaid Providers delivering Respiratory Care Services in Broward & Duval Counties. Please send an e-mail to the below address, so that we can work to maintain our patients access to these vital services.

MedicaidAdvocates1@netscape.com

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Wilgis Team Successfully Negotiates State Funding for Training RTs in Ventilator Disaster Response

After more than a year of activity, a state-appointed committee led by John Wilgis, RRT, former FSRC Chapter 5 Director and FSRC Board Member, has established a program for Disaster/Terrorism Response in which the FSRC will play an important role as facilitator for a state-funded program to train RTs in the response to strategic placement and activation of respiratory resources, particularly ventilator requirements. The FSRC Board has voted to begin planning for a series of training programs throughout the state in the coming months. More to come on this soon.

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Disaster Relief Needed !!

Any Florida Licensed Respiratory Therapist who is interested in assiting those in need in the disaster States, please visit: www.disasterhelp.net/medical

Additional disaster relief opportunities through the AARC are available here.

Visit this link to contribute to the AARC's Disaster Relief.

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