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U.S. Rep. Kathy Castor (D-FL14) filed legislation today to tackle the doctor shortage in Florida by expanding medical residency positions in the state and other states with a low number of medical residents. Hospitals and medical schools say a physician shortage looms over Florida as demand for health care services is expected to increase. Read more »

U.S. Rep. Castor highlights State of Florida’s hypocritical request for new federal Medicaid dollars, while Legislature appears ready to block expansion again Please see the attached letter sent today from U.S. Rep. Kathy Castor (D-Tampa/St. Petersburg, FL) to the Senate President and House Speaker of the Florida Legislature.   Read more »

U.S. Rep. Kathy Castor (FL-14), Sen. Bill Nelson (FL) and several members of the Florida Congressional Delegation sent the attached letter to Florida Gov. Rick Scott for abandoning his expressed support of Medicaid expansion under the federal Affordable Care Act. Read more »

Gov. Rick Scott made national headlines and disappointed his tea party base last year when he expressed support for using federal Medicaid expansion dollars to help uninsured Floridians get coverage. He supported the plan created by Senate Republicans to use the $51 billion in federal funding, but it was blocked by House Republicans at the end of the 2013 session. Read more »

Another $4.4 million is heading to Florida health centers to help them sign up residents for health insurance. Read more »

To help expand the capacity of community health centers serving our communities, U.S. Rep. Kathy Castor announced that 46 centers in Florida will receive $4.4 million in federal grant awards. “These outreach grants will create employment in Tampa Bay and assist our community health centers in their effort to enroll uninsured Americans in the new health insurance coverage options made… Read more »

Because of the Affordable Care Act, for the first time starting January 2014, insurance companies will be prohibited from denying health coverage for the up to 129 million Americans – including up to 7.8 million adults and children in Florida – with pre-existing conditions, according to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. Florida has the fourth highest number of individuals… Read more »

A report today shows that states fully participating in the expansion of Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act have significantly boosted access to medical care for their citizens. The report states that applications increased by 15 percent in October compared to the average monthly enrollment in July – September. “While other states have put their tax dollars to work to provide… Read more »

Florida families and individuals will benefit from a broad range of new health insurance options and lower than expected rates in the new Health Insurance Marketplace that will open next week. Rates in Florida are lower than expected and new tax credits for middle class families will help make health insurance even more affordable, according to today’s announcement by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. "This is great news for our neighbors across the Tampa Bay area and all Floridians. Low rates and a wide range of choices will be a godsend to families. Read more »