Rep. Jim Davis Urges Gov. Bush to Hold
Open Debate on Medicaid Reform
Davis
Offers to Co-host Medicaid Public Forum in
Tampa
WASHINGTON
,
DC
– Today, Congressman
Jim Davis
sent a letter to Governor Jeb Bush urging him to allow for a public
debate on his proposal to reform
Florida
’s Medicaid program, as well as alternative solutions to the problems
facing the program. Click here to read Rep.
Davis' letter.
Davis
offered to co-host the first public forum in the
Tampa
Bay
area. Congressman Davis, a
member of the U.S. House Committee on Commerce and Energy, which has
jurisdiction over the Medicaid program, wrote to Gov. Bush last year
expressing his concerns about rumored Medicaid reforms and their impact
on Florida’s neediest patients.
On Friday, Gov. Bush met with U.S. Secretary of
Health and Human Services, Tommy Thompson, to discuss potential reforms
to
Florida
’s Medicaid program. To
enact the Medicaid reforms that Gov. Bush unveiled today, the State must
ask the Centers of Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) to waive federal
regulations governing
Florida
’s Medicaid program. Once
a waiver is requested, CMS must take action within 60 days.
“The Medicaid Program is of life and death importance to countless
Floridians,” said Congressman Davis.
“
Florida
’s Medicaid program faces great challenges in the future which must be
addressed, but before the Governor takes steps to dramatically reform
the program, I hope he will include Floridians in the decision-making
process.”