Holy Shite: Look what FL has done now.

[cali]

Fla. lawmakers pass historic Medicaid overhaul

By KELLI KENNEDY AND BRENT KALLESTAD
Associated Press Writers

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. -- Two historic bills enacting sweeping changes to Florida's Medicaid program won Senate and House approval Friday, placing the care of nearly 3 million beneficiaries in the hands of private companies and hospital networks.

The bills inject sorely needed accountability into a statewide managed care program that has faltered in its current state in five pilot counties.

The plan's detractors say for-profit providers are making money scrimping on patient care. Patients have complained they couldn't get appointments with specialists. Several providers pulled out of the program, causing lapses in care as patients were bounced among plans.

Sen. Joe Negron, who spearheaded the overhaul, said leaders have learned from the pilot program's shortcomings and includes increased oversight and more stringent penalties, including fining providers up to $500,000 if they drop out.

Read more: http://www.miamiherald.com/2011/05/06/2205265/fla-lawmakers-pass-historic-medicaid.html#ixzz1LfnNsMEq

[warrior1]

1. this is what they voted for

[ixion]

3. You're spot on. I wonder how these dyed-in-the-wool GOP seniors feel now?

further, I wonder if they even realize what they've done.

[ixion]

2. That will have sweeping changes for sure, given the number of retired folks living here

"sorely needed accountability" my arse. These bills pave the way for private health 'care' companies to exploit senior citizens, in my opinion.

[iwishiwas]

4. Watch the ER's fill up.

[NotThisTime]

5. Isn't that what the GOP said Obama would do? Scrimp on care?Seems to me they were projecting.

[Marblehead]

6. GOP plan

die as soon as you can...

[spanone]

7. rick scott/HCA exactly what i would expect..

if they can get away with this in senior heavy florida, they probably figure they have a chance on a national scale

[lpbk2713]

8. Rick Snott gets to steal more Medicare/Medicaid money

The asshole couldn't be any more obvious. He has a license
to steal and he knows no one can stop him now. The Florida
voters will never cease to amaze me in the way the always
vote against their own interests.

[edhopper]

9. If the voters of FL

want to keep electing these assholes and never learn from it, then this is what they get.
Same is true for the rest of the Country.

The story of the frog and the scorpion comes to mind.

[Shagbark Hickory]

10. Geez, what took him (scott) so long? n/t

[steve2470]

11. Florida lawmakers finally adjourned at 3:35 a.m. to bring bizarre end to annual 60-day session

http://www.miamiherald.com/2011/05/07/2205569/lawmakers-seek-to-wrap-up-ambitious.html

TALLAHASSEE -- A last-minute feud over a Senate move to help a Jacksonville greyhound track sent the Florida legislature into overtime Friday as the planned smooth finish to the 60-day session dissolved with the Senate president sending members home at 1 a.m. Saturday.

It wasn’t until 3:35 a.m., when the Senate adjourned, that the session officially came to a close.

It was a rocky end to one of the most ambitious and ideological sessions in modern history in which legislators set overhauled schools, healthcare, courts, pensions, development and even election laws.

The Republican-led Legislature, which promised to be the most conservative in history, extended its 60-day session into Saturday as lawmakers became tangled over how to handle dozens of last-minute budget-related bills. But after an hour and no resolution in sight, Haridopolos, R-Merritt Island, called it quits, ordering senators to return at 10 a.m. Saturday.