Democrats upset over deep cuts in healthcare (Florida)

Posted on Thu, Apr. 29, 2004


PUBLIC SERVICES


Democrats upset over deep cuts in healthcare

Beyond the veneer of a something-for-everyone budget, healthcare cuts hit providers hard, and alarm Democrats who say Republicans are trying to privatize public health services.

BY MARC CAPUTO
mcaputo@herald.com


TALLAHASSEE - After 30 years as nurse, confidant and unofficial family member to patients in a Miami nursing home, Cloreta Morgan hoped this was the year that she and her co-workers would finally get some help from the state.

But election-year tax cuts have taken priority, and the Legislature decided for a second year in a row to delay staff increases for nursing homes across Florida, saving $62 million. The lawmakers also decided to freeze and cut reimbursement rates for hospitals that care for the poor and homes that look after the developmentally disabled.

The budget that will be sent to the governor on Friday also lays the foundation for privatizing more public-health services.

Following Gov. Jeb Bush's recommendation, lawmakers have earmarked $24 million to give a private company the right to manage the services at the South Florida Evaluation and Treatment Center, which rehabilitates convicted felons before they reenter the community. Republicans also slipped into the budget a provision that gives private companies -- instead of the state -- the ability to administer Medicaid services to elderly people in Hillsborough, Polk, Orange and Seminole counties.
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http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/news/state/8546428.htm

rates for hospitals that care for the poor and homes that look after the developmentally disabled.

The end result will most likely be a return to the days of the snakepits.

Private companies are looking a return of profits. The more they squeeze their employees wages and limit supplies and time spent on residents, the more they put in the bank.

Government on the other hand, doesn't really have the goal of turning a profit. That's basically why I prefer government provision of these services.

until the citizens down there wake up and toss this evil bunch of extremists from power and DEMAND voting reform this shit is gonna get a lot worse. I still can't believe they have mananged to get such a stranglehold on government down there and election fraud does NOT account for it all. The citizens keep sending these criminals back in office.

They continue to vote against their own best interests because of Propaganda and Hatred.

My parents live in Sun City there.

dogs, you wind up with fleas.

While they are cutting back on healthcare they are proposing to drug test high school students for performance enhancing drugs. I'd put keeping the health care system intact a higher priority. A survey of FL high school coaches did not show any real concern about steroid abuse.

Where's AARP when the government reneges on the deal?