Legislative Update - July 12, 2024

On Monday, First Lady Jill Biden was in Tampa to rally support for her husband’s re-election and on Tuesday, the presumptive Republican presidential nominee former President Donald Trump has returned to the campaign trail for a rally in Miami, Florida.

New "Free State of Florida" Sign: Florida Department of Transportation Secretary Jared Perdue recently announced on social media that drivers entering the state will now be greeted with signs saying "Welcome to the Free State of Florida," and those leaving will see "Hurry Back to the Free State of Florida." "No better way to celebrate Independence Day Weekend than new state line signs welcoming Floridians and visitors to the Free State of Florida!," Perdue wrote in a post on X, formerly known as Twitter. Gov. Ron DeSantis first used the term "free state of Florida" in his second inaugural address in January 2023. Lt. Gov. Jeanette Nunez also shared a photo online with one of the new signs. It's unclear how many signs were replaced and the associated costs. Tallahassee Democrat

New Florida laws: Fixing problems? Or creating them?

Florida has seen an uptick during the past couple of years in bills turning into laws. But that could slow down as a new leader takes over in the state House. Incoming House Speaker Daniel Perez, R-Miami, said he’s going to put a little more pressure on House members to justify bills they file for consideration during the 2025 and 2026 sessions. [Source: News Service of Florida]

Governor …

DeSantis to Speak at RNC

Gov. Ron DeSantis was added Wednesday to the speaker schedule for the Republican National Convention next week in Milwaukee. DeSantis also plans to take part in a Moms for Liberty panel discussion and will attend a breakfast with the Florida state delegation during the four-day meeting. Politico / Tampa Bay Times / USA Today

DeSantis, Renner Tap Panelists to Influence Abortion Amendment Financial Statement

The governor's office and the Florida House have assigned extra members to a panel of state economists working on a new estimate of the possible financial ramifications of a proposed constitutional amendment on abortion slated to appear on the ballot in November. Gov. Ron DeSantis chose former budget chief Chris Spencer to serve as the governor's office representative on the Florida Office of Economic and Demographic Research's Financial Impact Estimating Conference. Michael J. New, an assistant professor of social research at the Busch School of Business at The Catholic University of America, is also being paid $300 an hour by the governor's office to represent DeSantis' interests on the panel. House Speaker Paul Renner tapped Rachel Greszler, a Senior Research Fellow for the Roe Institute at the Heritage Foundation, as the House's representative on the panel, paying her $75 an hour. The "financial impact statement" that accompanies the ballot initiative is being updated following a ruling by a Tallahassee-based circuit judge who said the existing estimate was "inaccurate, ambiguous, misleading, unclear, and confusing." Conference members ended the group's second meeting on Monday with a couple of issues unaddressed and may end up not agreeing on a final estimate, Politico reported."The measure, known as Amendment 4, would expand abortion rights in the state, allowing the procedure up to about 24 weeks – when doctors say a fetus is "viable" outside the womb. The original financial impact statement, which estimates the effects of proposals on government revenue and the state budget, was issued before a Florida Supreme Court ruling that put into place the state's current abortion restrictions under a measure (SB 300) that bans most abortions after the first six weeks of pregnancy. Floridians Protecting Freedom, the political committee backing the abortion measure, argued the original financial statement contained outdated information about the legality of abortion and failed to reflect the current legal status. Spencer, representing the governor's office, projects significant legal costs for the state if the amendment passes, citing potential lawsuits and challenges to existing laws, such as the parental notification requirement and Medicaid's statewide abortion funding ban. He argued to include potential litigation costs in the fiscal impact analysis, citing Michigan as an example where abortion rights supporters are suing the state. The panel is set to meet again next week to finalize the fiscal impact statement for the ballot. Both DeSantis and Renner are publicly opposed to the amendment. It would need to be ratified by 60% of voters to take effect. Tallahassee Democrat / Politico

Business …

'Extremely Active' 2024 Hurricane Season Forecast Updated, Predicting More Storms

Colorado State University's annual hurricane forecast for 2024 was recently updated, adding two more named storms to the already anticipated "extremely active" Atlantic hurricane season. The revised forecast now predicts what would be a record-breaking 25 named storms, 12 hurricanes, and six major hurricanes, up from 23 named storms, 11 hurricanes, and five major hurricanes projected earlier this year. Last year's hurricane season saw 20 storms and seven hurricanes. The adjustment is attributed to near-record warm water temperatures in part of the tropical Atlantic and Caribbean. Early season Hurricane Beryl, a Category 5 storm, is seen as an indicator of a hyperactive season. Revised landfall probabilities estimate a 57% chance of at least one major hurricane hitting the continental U.S. coastline, compared to the historical average of 43%. The U.S. East Coast, including Florida, has a 31% probability, while the Gulf Coast has a 38% chance. "We anticipate a well above-average probability for major hurricane landfalls along the continental United States coastline and in the Caribbean," wrote the researchers. "As with all hurricane seasons, coastal residents are reminded that it only takes one hurricane making landfall to make it an active season. Thorough preparations should be made every season, regardless of predicted activity." The Capitolist / Sun Sentinel / CSU Hurricane Forecast

 EDR: Florida Sees $182.4 Million Boost in May Revenue Collections

Florida's general revenue collections for May exceeded expectations by $182.4 million, or 4.2%, compared to previous estimates made by state economists earlier this year. A significant portion of the increase – more than 92% – came from sales tax, insurance taxes, and earnings on investments. Sales tax collections contributed $71.9 million, or 2.4%, over the estimate, according to the Office of Economic and Demographic Research's monthly revenue report. Four out of six sales tax components exceeded previous estimates, including consumer nondurables gaining $47.3 million (4.8%), tourism gaining $27.7 million (3.9%), automobiles gaining $20.1 million (3.4%), and business gaining $36 million (5.6%). The personal saving rate also remained low at 3.9% in May, slightly up from April's 3.7%. Additionally, 11 out of 17 revenue sources surpassed their projections for the month. May collections reflect spending activity that largely occurred in April. Economists said the positive revenue performance underscores Florida's increasing economic activity, despite challenges posed by inflation and debt levels. EDR Monthly Report / EDR Detailed Report / News Service Florida

Florida ranked top economy in the U.S. for second year in a row” via Eric Daugherty of Florida’s Voice — CNBC placed Florida as the top state in the nation for economy in 2024, the second straight year. Texas, Tennessee, North Carolina, and Arizona followed Florida for the economy. DeSantis celebrated the news Thursday. “In 2024, we reduced spending, cut taxes, raised teacher pay, paid down record amounts of state debt, generated a huge budget surplus, ranked #1 in education, allocated record funding for Everglades restoration, and accelerated road and highway projects,” DeSantis said. Indeed, Florida spent less in fiscal year 2024 than in 2023 and is running a surplus of around $17 billion. DeSantis also vetoed nearly $1 billion from the budget.

Florida Outperforms National Economy: Florida's GDP will likely grow faster than the country's, unemployment will remain a touch lower and payroll job growth is expected to outpace the nation's, a Florida academic economist predicts. "We do believe the U.S. economy is slowing, and Florida's economy will slow as well," said Sean Snaith at the University of Central Florida's Institute for Economic Forecasting. "We're not immune from a national slowdown, but I think we're more resistant to the effects right now than perhaps we have been in previous slowdowns and recessions." Snaith credits population growth and a strong labor market for putting Florida in a better position to deal with recessions and economic slowdowns than some other parts of the country. Central Florida Public Media

Miss Independent: Florida Third Most 'Self-Sufficient' in Study: A new study by personal finance company WalletHub ranked Florida among the top three most self-sufficient states in the U.S. "With inflation affecting people across the country, many Americans are struggling to maintain financial independence," the study said. "Some have become at least temporarily more dependent on support from the federal government." The study aimed to identify the "most independent" state by assessing each state based on five categories of dependency: consumer finances, government reliance, job market, international trade, and personal vices. These categories were further divided into 39 indicators, such as the percentage of households receiving public assistance, unemployment rates, and the prevalence of gambling disorders. Utah emerged as the least federally dependent state, attributed to its low percentage of residents receiving government benefits and public assistance. Colorado followed in second place, while Florida secured the third spot. The study highlighted Florida's low unemployment rate of 3.1% and its strong employment growth rate as factors for its high ranking. Additionally, Florida boasts one of the lowest rates of underwater mortgages in the nation at only 1.3%, the sixth-lowest rate nationally. Another significant factor for Florida's high independence ranking is its early "tax freedom day." This metric indicates the number of days residents need to work to pay their federal, state, and local taxes. Florida's tax freedom day occurs just 93 days into the year, compared to 122 days in the slowest state. The top three states most dependent on the federal government included Louisiana, closely followed by Kentucky and Mississippi. USA Today Network / WalletHub

Will Hurricane Beryl impact gas prices in Florida?

Drivers in Florida are paying more at the pump than they have in the past two months, according to AAA. With Hurricane Beryl making landfall in Texas on Monday morning, how will that impact gas prices in the Sunshine State? AAA spokesperson Mark Jenkins said gas prices are facing continued upward pressure due to concerns about Beryl. More from Fox 35 Orlando, WFTV, and WPTV.

Gas Prices Surged 18 Cents Last Week: Florida gas prices surged by 18 cents per gallon just before the Independence Day holiday, reaching an average of $3.53 per gallon on July 4th, according to AAA – the auto club group. While the rate was 27 cents more than last year, it was still lower than the 2022 average of $4.54 per gallon. The West Palm Beach area remains the most expensive for refueling at $3.67 per gallon, while the Crestview-Fort Walton Beach region offers the current cheapest gas prices in the state at $3.20 a gallon. "Florida drivers are now paying the most expensive gas prices in nearly two months," said AAA spokesperson Mark Jenkins. "Fuel prices face continued upward pressure on concerns about Tropical Storm Beryl, and economic data suggesting that the U.S. Federal Reserve could lower interest rates to boost growth." Hurricane Beryl made landfall as a Category 1 storm in Texas on Monday. The Gulf Coast is home to nearly half of the country's fuel refining capacity, with the majority of Florida's gasoline supply sailing into the state from the region that includes Texas, Louisiana, and Mississippi. AAA Press Release

Report: Nearly Half of Fla Households Struggle to Pay for Needs

Almost half of Florida households are struggling to afford basic financial necessities like food, rent and the cost of transportation, according to a broadly-watched annual report from the United Way. The fundraising organization's United for Alice report found 46% of Florida households were either below the poverty level or earning above that level but still not bringing in enough to afford basics in their particular community.  In some counties, including Miami-Dade and Leon, more than half of households are facing financial hardship. The highest percentages of households facing an inability to buy basics are in the state's smaller, more rural counties. More than 60% of households met the researchers' threshold for not being able to regularly make ends meet in Glades, DeSoto, Dixie, Lafayette, Gadsden, and Holmes counties. Even in the counties with the lowest percentage of families facing difficulties, Nassau, Clay and St. Johns counties in Northeast Florida, around 30% or households reported struggling. United Way / WLRN

“‘I already work my max hours’: Study finds Floridians must work 100 hours a week to afford housing with minimum wage” via Marilyn Parker of WFLA — Some say it’s almost impossible to find an affordable house in Florida. A new report from the National Low Income Housing Commission finds that the average person working for minimum wage in Florida must work around 100 hours per week to afford a one-bedroom home in the state. “I already work my max hours; if I get another job on top of school, I’m dead,” Andrew Cevasco said. Leah Miller works in affordable housing and said she doesn’t know how people are ever going to be able to afford their own housing and ever get out of the rental market. “I believe it, it’s this, that’s the sad thing is that today’s wages are not at all equal to what it costs to live here,” Miller said. “Prices are increasing because wages need to go up. And it’s just hard to find that balance. And I’m not sure what needs to give.”

The South Florida economy at mid-year: inflation, housing and jobs still hot

The South Florida economy is humming along as 2024 is half over. It is weathering higher interest rates as the Federal Reserve continues trying to squeeze inflation — for now — with higher interest rates. More people are interested in working. They are generally finding jobs. And wages are going up, now out-pacing inflation. More from WLRN.

 Tampa among largest metros seeing a big drop in rent prices, report shows[WTSP]
While rent prices across the United States saw the biggest jump in June since late 2022, Florida is "bucking the national trend" and seeing lower rates in some of its most populous metros, including the Tampa Bay area. According to a recent report from Redfin, the Sunshine State's four most populous metros are seeing a decline in rent prices, which skyrocketed during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Florida’s economy is resilient, but growing pains persist

More than halfway through 2024, Florida’s economy remains strong, according to the Spring quarterly forecast reporton Florida’s economy authored by Sean Snaith, director of the University of Central Florida’s Institute for Economic Forecasting. “The data that came in in the first quarter suggested things were even a little bit stronger than what we were originally forecasting for the year,” he said. More from Central Florida Public Media.

Florida Lack of Workplace Heat Rules Differs from California: Florida's move this year to prevent local governments from providing workplace heat protections for workers contrasts markedly with approaches in other states, particularly California, where employers will soon have to provide water and access to air conditioned areas when indoor workplace temperatures go above 82. In Florida, local governments are prohibited by state law from requiring employers to make heat accommodations. Politico

Florida tax law incentivizes businesses to offer child care benefits

A Florida law went into effect July 1 that will provide businesses with tax incentives to support employees' childcare needs. House Bill 7073 was approved by Gov. Ron DeSantis in May and will provide employers with $5 million in annual childcare tax credits to help cover employee's certain child care expenses. Applications will be available this October through the Department of Revenue, according to The Children’s Movement of Florida. [Source: South Florida Business Journal]

Florida pulls digital driver’s license from app stores without explanation” via Jeffrey Schweers of the Orlando Sentinel — After spending $1.5 million on development and two years since its launch, the state has pulled its digital driver’s license application from iOS and Android app stores and deactivated it. But the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles didn’t say why. The move sidelines — at least for now — a troubled effort to bring Florida driver's licenses into the digital age. The app has been plagued with glitches that initially limited its utility. As of this week, the agency’s website FAQ page for the app said: “The Florida Smart ID applications will be updated and improved by a new vendor. Currently, the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles is removing the current Florida Smart-ID application from the app store.”

Florida Ranks Fourth Worst for Reckless Driving - A new study by The Barnes Firm, a personal injury law practice, reveals Florida is among the worst states for reckless driving, ranking fourth in the nation. The study analyzed data from several sources, including the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, and considered factors like fatal crashes caused by distracted drivers, speeding, and alcohol use. Florida's high rate of uninsured drivers at around 20% and a significant number of fatal accidents due to distracted driving and alcohol consumption contributed to its poor ranking. Florida's rate of uninsured drivers was the highest among all states in the Top 10. While the Sunshine state recorded 250 fatal distracted driving accidents and 1,580 alcohol-related fatal wrecks, Florida has one of the lowest rates of DUI arrests per 100,000 people among the Top 10, with 156 DUI arrests per 100,000 people. California, Texas, and Arizona rank as the top three states for reckless drivers, with Colorado following Florida in fifth place. "As lawyers, we have seen first hand the devastating impact reckless driving can have on individuals and families," read a prepared statement from the firm. "These insights underscore the urgent need for stricter enforcement of traffic laws and better driver education to enhance road safety across the nation." Washington, D.C., Delaware, and Idaho were identified as the safest states with the least reckless drivers. Barnes Study / Florida Politics / WJXT

Climate Change …

Textbooks Make Changes Related to Climate: Textbook authors were instructed to remove references to "climate change" from science books for Florida's public schools last month. A high school biology book had to add citations for claims about human-caused climate change and remove a statement urging government action. While the phrase was retained in biology texts due to state standards, it was removed from a high school chemistry book and middle school science books. Earlier this year, lawmakers passed and Gov. Ron DeSantis signed into law a wide-ranging environmental bill (HB 1645) that removed several references to the words "climate change" from state statutes. Orlando Sentinel

FEMA to Consider Climate Change When Rebuilding After Floods: The Federal Emergency Management Agency is shifting its approach to rebuilding after hurricanes by expanding the definition of "floodplain" to include future climate change impacts. The policy change follows an executive order from President Joe Biden, requiring federal agencies to incorporate climate science into their risk assessments and rebuilding efforts. FEMA Press Release / Insurance Journal / Grist / WESH / The Hill / New York Times

State Agencies …

“Health department data captured in cyberattack, hackers claim” via Lawrence Mower, Romy Ellenbogen and Christopher O'Donnell of the Tampa Bay Times — A hacker group claims it has breached the Florida Department of Health and gained access to a large amount of potentially sensitive data on Floridians. The RansomHub ransomware group said in a post on the dark web that it will release 100 gigabytes of department data unless the state pays an undisclosed amount of money.

Florida agencies grappling with cyberattacks

More than three months after a computer system serving as a backbone of the Florida Department of Juvenile Justice was hacked, many contractors providing services to at-risk and troubled youths remain unable to access the network. Efforts to bring the network back online were still ongoing as the state was hit with a second cyberattack that resulted in outages of the Florida Department of Health’s Vital Statistics System. The statewide system is used to process birth and death certificates, among other records. More from the News Service of Florida and Health News Florida.

Campaigns & Elections …

Report: Campaign spending in Florida could top $464M - Despite no longer being a battleground state, a new report projects spending in Florida will top $464 million for this year's campaign, one of the largest increases over previous predictions. According to the latest Political Projections Report by AdImpact, Florida has one of the largest projected increases in political spending, almost $69 million. but unlike Maryland, Montana, and Ohio, Florida is not considered a state in contention. [Source: The Center Square]

“Donald Trump running mate decision nears, with JD Vance, Marco Rubio at center of talks” via Marianne LeVine and Josh Dawsey of The Washington Post — Rubio’s allies argue that the Cuban American Senator could help Trump make inroads with non-White voters; is telegenic; has valuable foreign policy experience; and is popular with some Republican donors. According to people familiar with the President's thinking, Trump sees Rubio as a good messenger for his agenda.

While Trump and Rubio clashed sharply during the 2016 GOP Primary, with Trump nicknaming him “Little Marco” and Rubio calling the former President a “con man,” the two worked closely together while Trump was President, especially on U.S. foreign policy toward Latin American countries.

Biden narrows gap with Trump in swing states despite debate loss” via Gregory Korte and Mark Niquette of Bloomberg

“Poll: Young voters in 12 states, including Florida, think Trump’s felonies disqualify him” via Jesse Scheckner of Florida Politics — Under-30 voters in a dozen states — including Florida — are further souring on Trump’s candidacy in the wake of damaging court verdicts against the former President, newly released polling figures show. Seventy-four percent of voters 18-29 in Florida, Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, Nevada, New Hampshire, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Texas, Virginia and Wisconsin think Trump, as a convicted felon, shouldn’t be allowed near the White House again. That includes a majority of Democrats, Republicans and independents, according to Washington-based public research firm The Generation Lab, which surveyed 1,080 young voters in early June for Voters of Tomorrow, a Generation Z-led progressive election engagement organization.

Libertarians Back Marijuana Amendment: The Libertarian Party of Florida said Tuesday it is endorsing a ballot initiative seeking to change the state constitution to allow recreational marijuana use. The measure, Amendment 3, will be decided by Florida voters in November. It would need to get at least 60% of the vote to be approved. If it does, the measure would allow people 21 and up to possess up to 3 ounces of marijuana, with no more than 5 grams in concentrated form. "This amendment reflects the growing recognition that individuals should have the freedom to make their own choices regarding cannabis use," Libertarian Party Vice Chairman Matthew Johnson said. Libertarian Party / USA Today Network

National Donations Aiding Abortion Ballot Effort: Money is coming in from around the country to bolster a proposed constitutional amendment in Florida that would guarantee the right to an abortion in the state. Florida voters will be asked in November to decide on Amendment 4, which would legalize abortion up until fetal viability, or around 24 weeks of pregnancy. Currently, abortion is banned after six weeks of pregnancy and Gov. Ron DeSantis and most office-holding Republicans are working against the proposed amendment.

Trump Speaks in Doral: No Running Mate Announcement: Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump held a rally Tuesday in the Miami suburb of Doral, and while he mentioned that people thought he might name Florida U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio as a running mate, he didn't make any announcement on a vice presidential candidate. Rubio is reportedly on Trump's running mate shortlist as the former president prepares to be officially designated as the GOP nominee at the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee next week. Politico / Miami Herald

“‘Pot Daddy’ John Morgan is face of new million-dollar ad campaign for recreational marijuana ballot measure” via Christine Jordan Sexton of Florida Politics — Smart & Safe Florida is spending $1.1 million on the dual one-minute radio ads that feature Morgan, who is already ubiquitous on the television and radio airwaves due to his near-constant ads promoting his law firm. Morgan had agreed to become the “voice” of the effort. Recreational marijuana needs a “yes” vote from 60% of voters in November to pass. One of the radio ads featuring Morgan has a July 4 feel to it by noting that “nearly 250 years ago our nation declared our independence. Now it’s time for us to declare independence from laws that demand jail time for simply having or consuming marijuana.” A second ad entitled “Criminal Justice” contends that the amendment's passage will allow the police to “fight real crime, not fake crime.”

State political candidates faced a deadline last week for filing updated campaign-finance reports. Here are legislative candidates who raised the most money from June 15 through June 28 for their campaign accounts. The totals do not include money raised for political committees associated with many candidates.

— Rep. Adam Botana, R-Bonita Springs, House District 80: $30,224

— Rep. Keith Truenow, R-Tavares, Senate District 13: $28,725

— Sen. Corey Simon, R-Tallahassee, Senate District 3: $28,047

— Tallahassee Democrat Daryl Parks, Senate District 3: $23,622

— Rep. Chase Tramont, R-Port Orange, House District 30: $22,685

— Chiefland Republican Chad Johnson, House District 22: $20,450

— Orlando Democrat Daisy Morales, House District 44: $20,000***

— St. Augustine Republican David Shoar, Senate District 7: $19,000

— Rep. Allison Tant, D-Tallahassee, House District 9: $17,178

— Rep. Lindsay Cross, D-St. Petersburg, House District 60: $15,267

*** Morales contributed the money to her campaign account.

Source: Florida Division of Elections

“Groups end federal legal challenge to Ron DeSantis-backed congressional map” via Gary Fineout of POLITICO — A coalition of voting rights and civil rights groups that challenged DeSantis’ congressional map is ending its legal fight.

After losing during the first round in federal court, the groups announced Thursday that they would not appeal that ruling to the Supreme Court. The lower court rebuffed arguments that the map — which dismantled the North Florida seat held by a Black Democrat — was discriminatory and unconstitutional.

Health Care Related News Articles

AdventHealth Begins Construction On New Pasco County Emergency Room: AdventHealth and Pasco County officials broke ground to mark the start of construction on the new Meadow Pointe Emergency Room on Wednesday. The off-site facility, intended to help meet the health care needs of Pasco County's growing population, will be positioned between AdventHealth Wesley Chapel and AdventHealth Zephyrhills. The 13,000-square-foot building will include 12 patient beds, two triage rooms, and comprehensive imaging and lab services. The $26 million project is set to be completed in spring of 2025 and is expected to create over 30 new jobs. The new ER will be AdventHealth's fifth location in Pasco County, joining eight other freestanding emergency rooms across the Tampa Bay Area. Tampa Free Press

AAMC Analysis Shows Drop in Residency Applicants in Fla Following Abortion Laws: After Roe v. Wade was overturned in 2022, states with near-total abortion bans saw larger declines in physician residency applicants compared to states where abortion is legal. States with gestational limits, like Florida, experienced a greater drop in applicants during the second residency application cycle but not the first, according to an analysis by the Association of American Medical Colleges. Gestational limit states saw a 1.9% decline in both cycles, with Florida recording a 0.7% decrease in 2022-23 and a 9.7% drop in the past year. The analysis was conducted before Florida's six-week abortion ban took effect in May. Most doctors stay to practice in the states where they complete their residency, and researchers warned that declining interest in training in states with abortion restrictions "may negatively affect access to care," particularly in rural and marginalized communities. Tampa Bay Times

New Alzheimer's Clinic in Sarasota: The Roskamp Institute in Sarasota plans to open a clinic in September to treat early-stage Alzheimer's patients with Leqembi and the newly FDA-approved Kisunla. These antibody infusions target amyloid plaques in the brain, slowing cognitive decline by about six to seven months. The treatments require regular infusions and brain scans due to risks like brain swelling and bleeding. Leqembi costs $26,500 annually, and Kisunla $32,000, with Medicare covering most costs. The Institute is also expanding its facilities and services, with a $9 million project underway. WUSF

Tampa Clinic Closures Force Patients to Find New Providers: Diagnostic Clinic Medical Group announced last month that it will close its four clinics on Aug. 30 after more than 50 years of service in Pinellas and Polk counties. The closures will impact an estimated 30,000 Florida patients, who must now find new providers outside the open enrollment period. "We're finding that a lot of panels are just not accepting new patients, so (patients) have to travel outside of Pinellas County," said health insurance provider Bill Wilkie. GuideWell, Diagnostic Clinic's parent company which also owns Florida Blue, made the decision to close the medical group, which has locations in Clearwater, St. Petersburg, Largo and Winter Haven. The closures are part of a broader trend of decreasing health care access in Florida, including the removal of clinics by national chains like Walmart and Walgreens. WUSF

Medicaid Managed Care Plans Sanctioned

The Agency for Health Care Administration imposed over $33 million in sanctions against state-contracted Medicaid health plans in the 2023-24 fiscal year, with 288 final actions resulting in $33.2 million in liquidated damages as of late last month. Florida's Medicaid program, funded by state and federal tax dollars, is mainly administered by private companies under state contracts. The state data reveals that Sunshine Health faced the most actions at 36, followed by UnitedHealthcare at 35 and Humana Medical Plan at 33. But WHO faced the highest amount of paid damages at nearly $13.8 million, compared to $2.29 million for UnitedHealthcare and $2.3 million for Humana Medical Plan. Simply Healthcare was sanctioned for just $2,500. The number of final actions during the past fiscal year increased by 36 over the previous year, with damages rising by over $30 million. While the new fiscal year began July 1, AHCA is currently negotiating new Medicaid managed care contracts that are set to take effect on Jan. 1, 2025. The agency's compliance dashboard shows 1,213 final actions against health plans during the six years the current contracts have been in effect, with nearly all resulting in liquidated damages totaling just $9 million. The damages estimate the state's financial loss due to non-performance, and aren't intended as punitive fines. Florida Politics

Medicaid Redetermination Trial Begins After Delay

The trial in a lawsuit filed against Florida for its handling of the Medicaid "unwinding" process began in a courtroom in Jacksonville on Thursday. The Medicaid redetermination class-action lawsuit, filed last August by the Florida Health Justice Project and the National Health Law Program, claims the state illegally and inadequately informed recipients about coverage loss and their right to appeal, violating due process rights and federal Medicaid law, resulting in a lack of necessary medical care. Only one of the named plaintiffs in the case, 34-year-old Kimber Taylor, took the stand at a federal courthouse in Jacksonville to open the trial this week. She was among the beneficiaries removed from the safety-net program. Florida Medicaid officials began eligibility redeterminations following the end of the federal COVID-19 public health emergency. During the pandemic, Medicaid rolls expanded due to a federal requirement that provided states with extra funding on the condition they did not remove people from the program. Florida officials have removed more than 1.8 million people, including about 600,000 children, from Medicaid since April 2023 when it began returning eligibility controls that had been relaxed during the pandemic. The full bench trial will continue with more witnesses beginning July 29, overseen by U.S. District Judge Marcia Morales Howard. Plaintiffs seek to halt the state's redetermination process and reinstate Medicaid coverage for those removed from the program. Several lawsuits are pending over the issue and others involving who Medicaid must cover in the state. The Tributary / Miami Herald / Newsweek