Upcoming elections will affect Medicaid.
August 19th is the Florida primary; hundreds of candidates are running for State offices. Every Cabinet post: Governor, Chief Financial Officer, Agricultural Commissioner, and Attorney General is up for re-election. Every State Representative is on the ballot along with over 1/3rd of the Florida Senate.
SurfMed has long been engaged with politicians and regulators to educate them on the needs of our members and the Medicaid community at large, but one voice is never enough. With the elections, there will be many who need to be educated and much to discuss, and we think it is important to address issues now to get politicians thinking now about how their decisions will affect the health care of the state. This election cycle, it is more important than ever to prepare for the future, which is uncertain and generates much fear.
The fear for Medicaid is based on simple math. According to the State budget offices, the Florida budget will be upside-down by $1.8 billion in 2027 and over $6 billion in 2028. Florida has a balanced budget requirement, so the only solution will be to cut services and/or raise revenue. The current leadership is not supportive of raising new revenue, so when it comes to cutting costs, it cannot be ignored that the largest expense in the state is Medicaid, so that Medicaid could be on the chopping block.
Elected leaders have not been willing to address Medicaid issues for some time, except for the recent expansion of the efforts to fight fraud. Under a new governor and new House and Senate leadership, changes will have to be explored.
This is why all citizens of Florida need to be engaged in the political process, to reach out to their elected officials, from House and Senate candidates to all the Candidates for each cabinet post, the Gubernatorial candidates most of all, and ask them to go on the record now regarding their stance on protecting Medicaid and growing it in a smart way that better helps all of its recipients.
If you want to locate those who are running for office from your area, click below.
Let them know that, as a constituent, as a member of the health care community, and as a Floridian, you understand Medicaid. Let them know your thoughts, experiences, and expectations, and whatever those are, be consistent. Elected officials and those running do not know you nor your experience, and they can learn from whatever you present. This is your Florida; engage with the political class to help it reflect your values.
Note that the Gubernatorial race is vitally important. The new governor heads the executive branch and will be key to crafting the priorities of the state government; therefore, know for whom you are voting and why.
Disclaimer:
The content on this website is provided for general informational purposes only and may incorporate information from third-party sources. SurfMed does not provide medical advice, and the information presented should not be relied upon as a substitute for professional diagnosis or treatment. Reliance on any information provided is solely at your own risk.
The content on this website is provided for general informational purposes only and may incorporate information from third-party sources. SurfMed does not provide medical advice, and the information presented should not be relied upon as a substitute for professional diagnosis or treatment. Reliance on any information provided is solely at your own risk.