Senator Wilson Hosts Forum on Obama Health Care Plan

MIAMI GARDENS – Florida State Senator Frederica S. Wilson will host a Town Hall Forum on the Obama Health Care plan to highlight and explain the various changes made by the new Health Reform law. The forum will take place on Wednesday, June 16 at the Lou Rawls Center for the Performing Arts on the campus of Florida Memorial University. The forum will begin at 7pm.

“Did you know that you may be eligible for additional monetary benefits and even Medicaid under the new reform laws? There are so many aspects of the Health Reform Act that many of us in the community don’t know about,” said Senator Wilson. “I am hosting this forum to help spread this information throughout the community so that we can be informed about what the Act actually does, from the expanding of Medicaid to providing resources for small businesses and even loan assistance for students.” … Continue Reading

Lopez-Cantera Statement Regarding Charlie Crist’s Veto Of HB 1143

TALLAHASSEE, FL – House Majority Whip Carlos Lopez-Cantera (R-Miami) issued the following statement regarding the veto of House Bill (HB) 1143 today by Governor Charlie Crist:
“Charlie Crist professes to care about ‘The People’.  But today he showed a lack of compassion and caring towards the most vulnerable people of all: the unborn.”

… Continue Reading

Sands Statement Regarding Veto Of HB 1143

TALLAHASSEE, FL – Florida House Democratic Leader Franklin Sands (D-Weston) issued the following statement regarding today’s veto of House Bill House Bill 1143:

“The veto of House Bill 1143 is a victory for those who hold important the causes of personal freedom and less government intrusion in people’s lives. It’s a shame that Republican legislative leaders attempted to place an inappropriate burden on women seeking to terminate a pregnancy and attempted to so wrongly and unwisely expand the role of government.

“I hope that the voters understand that Republican legislative leaders can’t be trusted.” … Continue Reading

Hudson’s Cost-Saving State Health Agency Legislation Vetoed By Governor

TALLAHASSEE, FL – Representative Matt Hudson’s (R-Naples) bill streamlining and increasing efficiency at the Agency for Health Care Administration (AHCA), a state government health agency, was vetoed by Governor Charlie Crist. House Bill (HB) 1143 would also have prevented taxpayer money from going to pay for elective abortions, a practice that would now be allowed under recent federal health care legislation, and would have given Florida’s Attorney General greater ability to represent Floridians against potentially unconstitutional mandates in the same federal health care legislation. Representative Hudson issued the following statement: … Continue Reading

MEMORANDUM: Governor’s Bill Action Today, June 11, 2010

Governor Charlie Crist vetoed the following bill today, June 11, 2010:

CS/CS/CS      HB       1143    Health Care

Please see the attached veto letter.

If you have any questions or need additional information, please call Governor Crist’s press office at (850) 488-5394.

… Continue Reading

Florida Agency For Health Care Administration To Hold Public Meetings On Medicaid Managed Care Pilot Program

~Florida Medicaid will take input from stakeholders on Florida’s Managed Care Pilot Program~

TALLAHASSEE – The Florida Agency for Health Care Administration (Agency) will hold a series of public meetings to solicit public input on the extension of Florida’s 1115 Research and Demonstration Waiver (Managed Care Pilot). The Florida Managed Care Pilot is a program in Baker, Broward, Clay, Duval and Nassau Counties that seeks to improve the services provided to Medicaid recipients through mandatory participation in managed care plans for specific populations.  The program began in 2005, and as of May 1, 2010, 260,394 Floridians are enrolled in the Florida Managed Care Pilot. … Continue Reading

Attorney General McCollum to Make Announcement Regarding Health Care Reform Lawsuit Tomorrow

To: Interested State and National Media
Date: May 13, 2010
Subject: Attorney General McCollum to make announcement regarding health care reform lawsuit tomorrow

Members of the Media,

Florida Attorney General Bill McCollum will make an important announcement
tomorrow related to the health care reform lawsuit currently pending in
federal court. The announcement will coincide with the filing of the
states’ amended complaint in this matter and will take place in Tampa.
Members of the media wishing to attend must present official media
credentials upon request. … Continue Reading

Watch Part 2 of the Mason-Dixon Line with Ron Sachs Featuring Sally Bradshaw and Screven Watson

Part 2: Going Inside the Sachs/Mason-Dixon Poll Numbers on Florida’s Cabinet Races and Constitutional Amendments

Mason Dixon Line with Ron Sachs from Ron Sachs Communications on Vimeo.
… Continue Reading

New Sachs/Mason-Dixon Poll: Undecided Voters Control Competitive Cabinet Races, Amendment Campaigns

“Hometown Democracy” exceeds 60 percent

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – A new statewide poll released by Ron Sachs Communications shows an open and competitive field in the state Cabinet races for Attorney General, Chief Financial Officer and Agriculture Commissioner, with most voters undecided.

In a likely General Election match-up for Agriculture Commissioner, former Tallahassee mayor and past Democratic Party chairman Scott Maddox (D) and U.S. Rep. Adam Putnam (R) are neck-and-neck, with Maddox leading 31 percent to 30 percent, well within the 4 percent margin of error. Thirty-nine percent of registered voters are undecided.

In the likely match-up for Chief Financial Officer, Senate President Jeff Atwater (R) leads with 33 percent, while former state Rep. Loranne Ausley (D) has 26 percent and 41 percent of registered voters are undecided.

In the Republican Primary for Florida Attorney General, Lt. Gov. Jeff Kottkamp leads with 13 percent, Hillsborough prosecutor Pam Bondi has 10 percent and former legislator and ACHA Secretary Holly Benson has 5 percent. Seventy-two percent of likely Republican primary voters are undecided.

And in the Democratic Primary for Florida Attorney General, state Sen. Dan Gelber leads with 15 percent, and state Sen. Dave Aronberg has 12 percent. Seventy-three percent of likely Democratic primary voters are undecided. … Continue Reading

Congresswoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz: They Have No Shame

They Have No Shame

I could hardly believe what I was reading.

A recent story from Reuters News reported in disturbing detail that the nation’s largest health insurance company is singling out breast cancer patients and dropping their coverage: … Continue Reading

State Sen. Dan Gelber on the Continued Push by Republican Legislative Leaders to Authorize the Attorney General’s Frivolous Lawsuit

Tallahassee, Fla. – In a continued push to ignore the desires of Floridians to drop the politically driven lawsuit led by Attorney General Bill McCollum, Republican legislative leaders filed an amendment to HB 1143 authorizing General McCollum to continue his frivolous litigation blocking Floridians from meaningful health care reform. In response to the choice by Republican leaders to thwart the will of Floridians, State Senator Dan Gelber (D-Miami Beach) on Wednesday issued the following statement: … Continue Reading

Florida Senate Passes SJR 72, the Florida Health Care Freedom Act

Tallahassee – Today, the Florida Senate passed, by a vote of 26-11, Senate Joint Resolution 72 (SJR 72). The resolution, also known as the Florida Health Care Freedom Act and sponsored by Senator Carey Baker (R-Eustis), provides each citizen of Florida the chance to cast a vote prohibiting the Federal government from interfering with an individual’s personal health care choices. It will be on the statewide ballot this November. … Continue Reading

Florida Agency for Health Care Administration Continues to Lead the Nation in Making Health Care Information Transparent

~Florida is the first state to post pediatric readmission and quality measures~

TALLAHASSEE – The Florida Agency for Health Care Administration (Agency) announced today that Florida is the first state to publish potentially preventable pediatric hospital readmissions and quality measures data on the nationally recognized Web site, FloridaHealthFinder.gov. The Agency also enhanced navigation throughout the Web site and updated current data to reflect information on Florida’s health care facilities through June 2009. … Continue Reading

Representative Gaetz Becomes Co-Sponsor of the Healthcare Freedom Act

TALLAHASSEE, FLA – Minutes after being sworn-in as the newest member of the Florida House, Representative Matt Gaetz (R-District 4) became a co-sponsor of a proposed state constitutional amendment aimed at stopping the federal take-over of healthcare in Florida. … Continue Reading

Floridians to Present Attorney General Bill McCollum More Than 7,300 “Not in Our Name, Not on Our Dime” Petitions Opposing Lawsuit Against Health Reform

37 organizations representing more than half a million Floridians sign on as well

TALLAHASSEE – Health care advocates and concerned citizens will hand deliver more than 7,300 signatures on a petition along with an organizational letter representing more than half a million Floridians opposing Attorney General Bill McCollum’s lawsuit to block Florida from benefiting from federal health care reform. … Continue Reading

Representative Galvano Statement on HJR 37 — The Healthcare Freedom Act

TALLAHASSEE, FL – Representative Bill Galvano (R-Bradenton) issued the following statement regarding House Joint Resolution (HJR) 37, known as the Health Care Freedom Act, a proposed constitutional amendment that seeks to exempt Florida residents from the federal mandate on health care insurance coverage:

“I look forward to continuing to work with House Majority Leader Hasner and Representative Plakon to ensure that Floridians’ rights are not abridged by overreaching and invasive government mandates on their private health care decisions. … Continue Reading

House Council Passes Bill to Bolster Attorney General McCollum’s Constitutional Challenge

~McCollum’s legal action defends rights of individuals, states~

TALLAHASSEE, FL – Today the House Rules & Calendar Council passed legislation providing Florida Attorney General Bill McCollum greater authority to bring legal action against the Health Care Reform bill signed into law by President Obama as an unconstitutional mandate on states and individuals. Florida House Majority Leader Adam Hasner (R-Delray Beach) and Chairman of the House Rules & Calendar Council Bill Galvano (R-Bradenton) issued the following joint statement: … Continue Reading

House Majority Office: Reminder — Medicaid Briefing at 4:30 p.m.

A reminder that there will be a briefing at 4:30 pm today in the House Majority Office Conference Room on the Medicaid reform legislation coming before the House on Thursday.

Attached are the documents that will be distributed at the briefing. The Florida Channel has made arrangements to broadcast the briefing, as well.

Section by section for HB 7223

Medicaid Transformation

Mark O’Bryant, President & CEO of Tallahassee Memorial HealthCare Recognized as Grassroots Champion

April 14, 2010 – The American Hospital Association (AHA), in partnership with the Florida Hospital Association (FHA) has awarded Mark O’Bryant, President & Chief Executive Officer of Tallahassee Memorial HealthCare with the American Hospital Association Grassroots Champion Award. As a 2010 Grassroots Champion, O’Bryant is being recognized for his exceptional leadership in generating grassroots and community activity in support of a hospital’s mission. … Continue Reading

Florida Attorney General: Georgia Will Join Health Care Lawsuit

TALLAHASSEE, FL – Florida Attorney General Bill McCollum today issued the following statement on Georgia Governor Sonny Perdue’s decision to join the lawsuit challenging the constitutionality of the health care reform law: … Continue Reading