After years of resistance to the Affordable Care Act (“ACA”) by Republican leadership in the State of Florida, U.S. Rep. Kathy Castor announced today that she is buoyed  by reports that the state will not oppose an important ACA provision relating to increased reimbursements to primary care physicians treating Medicaid patients – predominately children, seniors and pregnant women. Castor championed this provision for inclusion into the ACA in July 2009 as a member of the Energy & Commerce Committee and has worked to ensure broad-based implementation because of its importance to Florida families and their access to health care.

“The intent of the legislation was for the rate increase to be automatic, requiring no state action by either the Legislature or the governor, but state officials appeared resistant until this week.” Castor said. “I am encouraged that state officials from the governor’s office and the Legislature seem to now understand that families have great difficulty finding a primary care doctor or pediatrician because the state paid them so little. By increasing Medicaid reimbursement rates, more physicians will be willing to treat these patients and pregnant women, children and seniors will be able to continue to see their current doctors.”

“The pediatricians of Florida are delighted to learn that the Florida legislature is moving forward with the Medicaid physician fee increase next month,” said Louis B. St. Petery, Jr., executive vice president of the Florida Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics. “The current Florida Medicaid physician fee does not reimburse physicians enough to cover their costs, causing many to be reluctant to see Medicaid children. This action will increase the availability of appropriate health care services to Florida's Medicaid children because physicians will be able to care for these children without incurring such a significant financial loss.”

Added Bruce Rueben, president of the Florida Hospital Association: “Higher payments to primary care physicians will create better access to cost-effective care. This is a good thing for the patients covered through the Medicaid program.”

Florida’s 14 pediatric programs – including St. Joseph’s Hospital, Tampa General Hospital, and All Children’s Hospital – rely on Medicaid funding for an average of 62 percent of their hospital stays. Castor worked with U.S. HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius and the Children’s Hospital Association to ensure the final rule on the Medicaid increase included pediatric specialists who treat patients that benefit from Medicaid.  Last March, Castor and others challenged Governor Scott’s pronouncement that he would not implement the Medicaid doctor increase in Florida unlike most other states.

Earlier this year, Castor also urged Gov. Scott and the Florida Legislature to reconsider not including the $438.5 million for increasing reimbursement rates in the state budget.  At that time, Castor also made it clear that the legislative intent was to expeditiously broaden access to care to pediatricians, family physicians and primary care doctors for Florida families. Last week, Castor sent a letter to Gov. Scott, again asking him to not interfere with implementing the higher Medicaid reimbursement rates to primary care physicians who treat Medicaid families and to swiftly implement the higher Medicaid reimbursement rates to primary care physicians.  Castor reiterated that the rate increase is automatic and requires no state action for the boost to occur.  State officials now appear to agree.