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Special session to detail Medicaid revision

Legislators will set up a pilot HMO-type program for Duval and Broward counties. They also may finally enact rules for Broward slot machines.

By JONI JAMES
Published November 5, 2005

TALLAHASSEE - Looking to finally launch his controversial plan to revamp how Florida's poor receive medical care, Gov. Jeb Bush on Friday called a special session of the Legislature for Dec. 5-9.

Lawmakers also are expected to consider state laws regulating slot machines at parimutuels in Broward County - eight months after voters there approved the gambling expansion.

The special session, anticipated since lawmakers adjourned from the regular session in May, is expected to provide Bush the authority to start planning to change Medicaid delivery in Broward and Duval counties in the summer.

But it's less clear what deal lawmakers might strike on slot machines. They adjourned in May without agreement on the kind and quantity of machines parimutuels can install, what hours they can operate and how much the machines' revenue will be taxed.

Bush's move Friday marks the first time in two years that he, rather than the Legislature's Republican leadership, has recalled lawmakers to Tallahassee to address unfinished business.

Since ascending to power in November 2003, House Speaker Allan Bense of Panama City and Senate President Tom Lee of Valrico have made a point of issuing all special session calls themselves, to contrast with the acrimony that consumed their predecessors, House Speaker Johnnie Byrd, R-Plant City, and Senate President Jim King, R-Jacksonville.

But Lee and a spokesman for Bense said that wasn't possible this time. Both men sought to include their own pet projects in the call, including Bense's desire to dramatically rewrite liability laws and Lee's desire to require more disclosure from lobbyists.

Lee said he told Lt. Gov. Toni Jennings that he was amenable to the governor's call. "We'd been working on trying to come to an agreement for a couple of weeks, and we couldn't," Lee said. "I told them to go ahead."

Bense was similarly comfortable with the governor's decision, said spokesman Towson Fraser.

"A year ago, it was important to show that they were past the acrimony of the last few years and they were willing to work together," Fraser said. "I think people get that now.'

Under Bush's Medicaid plan, approved by the federal government last month, more than 200,000 patients in the Fort Lauderdale and Jacksonville areas will be moved to a health maintenance organization-style plan aimed at limiting the state's medical costs.

The scheme is sure to be closely watched as all 50 states and the federal government in recent years have seen dramatic cost increases in Medicaid, which provides health care for the state's poorest and disabled citizens. Medicaid costs, $15-billion this year, now account for one of every four dollars in Florida's state budget.

Times staff writer Steve Bousquet contributed to this report. Joni James can be reached at 850 224-7263 or jjames@sptimes.com

[Last modified November 5, 2005, 01:22:18]