government
Florida counties challenge Medicaid billing law in court
NEWS IN BRIEF — Posted May 21, 2012
The Florida Assn. of Counties, along with 47 individual counties, are suing the state over a Medicaid billing law that critics say violates Florida’s Constitution.
The law, signed by Gov. Rick Scott in March, implements a new payment system for Medicaid bills paid to health centers. The lawsuit, filed April 26 in the Circuit Court of the 2nd Judicial Circuit, calls the law an unfunded mandate that unfairly forces counties to pay old, disputed bills. The counties claim in their complaint that the measure probably will raise taxes and take local dollars from communities (link)
In a March letter to Florida Secretary of State Kenneth Detzner, Scott said the law establishes a process by which the state properly can collect counties’ share of prior and future Medicaid costs. He acknowledged concerns about the measure but said state leaders would work diligently to ensure that all billings are accurate and valid.
Note: This item originally appeared at http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/2012/05/21/gvbf0521.htm.
