Gov.Ron DeSantisit did not radically veto health care projects as part of the nearly $511 million in spending items eliminated from the new state budget.
DeSantis vetoed $14.55 million directly from the health care portion of the new $116.5 billion budget. The largest single article cut from that section was nearly $3 million for a University of South Florida simulation modeling program designed to reduce opioid overdose. The modeling program was promoted by the St. Petersburg senator.Darryl Rouson.
Many of the other vetoed items were directed at local projects.
Representative.Michele Rayner-Goolsby he is a St. Petersburg democrat who was vetoed on two projects. DeSantis vetoed $1.15 million for the Well Center for Trauma Recovery Wellness and HealingJustice, which establishes a single point of contact for survivors of violent crimes and their families, and $180,960 to mitigate flood issues at the ‘Operation PAR, a licensed residential substance use treatment program specifically for pregnant women and parents.
“The decision to veto these projects not only ignores the needs of many Floridians, it also targets people of color and brown, who are often more likely to experience violent crime and substance use disorders. These cuts fail to recognize the long-term benefits and cost savings such initiatives would offer our community,” she said in a prepared statement.
Rayner-Goolsby is one of DeSantis’s most vocal critics in the house. In his statement, she urged lawmakers “to reaffirm our commitment to provide comprehensive services and care to survivors of violent crime and support pregnant and parenting women on their journey to recovery.”
DeSantis also vetoed the $20 million academic STEM nursing facility on the USF Sarasota Manatee campus that was a priority for the Republican Senator from Bradenton. Jim Boyd and Rep. Will Robinson.
The Governor also eliminated funding for projects at three private colleges associated with training health care professionals.
The Governor’s decision to lightly trample health care budget vetoes means Medicaid rate hikes for many health care providers participating in the Health Safety Net program.
This budget funds a much-needed Medicaid rate hike for behavioral health services, the largest increase in decades, and a one-time expense of more than $90 million for community short-term housing and additional infrastructure expansions. These investments will have an immediate impact by increasing access to behavioral health care statewide,” Florida Behavioral Health Association President and CEO Melanie Brown Wooftersaid in a statement.
“The budget also increases funding for Florida’s central shelter system, significantly strengthening and expanding the critical entry point for individuals and families going through a crisis, giving them instant access 24/7 out of 7 to life-saving treatments”.
Lawmakers also allocated $385 million to support prevention and treatment services responding to the opioid epidemic. Much of this funding came from proceeds from Florida’s deals with drug companies.
The new budget, which goes into effect July 1, also includes $2 million in recurring revenue for a dental student loan program and donated dental services. TThe dental loan program encourages dentists to practice in public health programs and to serve low-income patients in rural and underserved areas.
With this investment, Florida dentists can begin helping thousands of patients in need through these two programs this year, Florida Dental Association President Gerard Bird She said.
The budget also includes increases in reimbursement rates for children’s physicians and hospitals treating low-income children in the state. Some beneficiaries of that increase include Johns Hopkins All Childrens Hospital in St. Petersburg, Nemours Childrens Hospital in Orlando, Nicklaus Childrens Hospital in Miami and Wolfson Childrens Hospital in Jacksonville. They released a joint statement thanking the legislature and the governor.
“This funding will have a significant impact in helping address the Medicaid shortage in these hospitals and ensure that all children can continue to access this critically specialized pediatric treatment,” the statement noted.
The budget also includes increased funds to access Florida KidCare, the subsidized children’s health insurance program, and includes an increase in nursing home reimbursement rates. Lawmakers agreed to allocate $93 million to support quality-at-facility advances for some facilities and an additional $32 million for all nursing centers. Lawmakers also agreed to increase residents’ personal needs allowances from $130 a month to $160 a month.
The real challenges of our growing aging population cannot be set aside, and Governor, Senate Speaker Passidomo and President Renner deserve our thanks for recognizing this and providing funds to address those challenges,” said the Trustee FHCA delegate in a prepared statement.
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