March 6, 2019
Health Care Voters' Guide
to the
2019 Florida Legislative Session
For sixty days, Florida legislators are in Tallahassee to finalize a budget and pass laws that will impact every single Floridian. For health care voters, it can be impossible to follow everything that is happening. This guide includes resources to track health care bills and to understand some of the bigger issues that are sure to come up.
What You Need to Know About Legislative Session
Florida’s 60-day legislative session began on Tuesday, March 5. Read our handy primer with a breakdown of how session works, who's in charge, and a short list of health care issues to surface so far.

2019 Florida Medicaid Chartbook
The Florida Policy Institute just updated its guide to understanding Florida’s Medicaid program and the benefits of expansion. What’s inside: Information on what groups are covered under Florida’s Medicaid program, and at what income thresholds; Who’s in the Medicaid “coverage gap”; How Medicaid expansion would benefit Florida; And more.

Spotlight Issue: Dental Therapy
Access to dental care is a major, but little discussed, issue for so many Floridians. According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, more than 5.5 million Floridians live in 232 communities designated as “Dental Care Health Professional Shortage Areas” (HPSAs). Click here to read more about how dental therapy can help Florida address this problem and take action!

Roadmap to Long-Term Care
Florida's Medicaid Long-Term Care program is a big part of the state's health care conversation. Currently, Florida Medicaid covers about 61% of all nursing home days. That number will only grow in the future. 

In this video series, Florida Voices for Health's Aging & Disability Consumer Advocate, Kelly Wilson, explains Florida's LTC program, what it means for Floridians, and the challenges faced by the program.

Help Protect Florida Medicaid
Senate Considers Permanent Cut to Medicaid
Last year, the Florida legislature approved a one time cut to Medicaid retroactive eligibility. This year they are considering SB 192, a bill making the cut permanent.