Plus lawyer ad bans, county health rankings
More than a quarter of a million Floridians have lost Medicaid benefits now that the coronavirus pandemic is over, new restrictions on attorney advertising on healthcare issues, and a new report on how each of Florida’s 67 counties rank in healthcare outcomes. It’s all in this week’s Healthcare Digest.
Pandemic Medicaid Coverage Ending: Nearly 250,000 Medicaid recipients in Florida have lost coverage since the state began reviewing the eligibility of the almost 5 million people on the Medicaid rolls in April. The federally-mandated review was prompted by the end of the pandemic public health emergency, which allowed about 1.8 million Floridians to add or keep their Medicaid coverage, regardless of eligibility thanks to federal funding.
The Florida Department of Children and Families reports that as of last week, it has reviewed eligibility for about 461,000 people. Of those, about 205,000 were removed from the rolls for failure to respond to requests for needed eligibility information and another 44,300 were referred to other health coverage because they earn too much to remain eligible. Florida is one of 10 states that doesn’t exercise an incentive in the federal Affordable Care Act that rewards states for expanding Medicaid to more low-income residents.
Banning Misleading Ads: After enacting sweeping tort reform earlier this year in HB 837, the Florida Legislature passed a bill for the Governor to consider signing into law that would rein in misleading trial lawyer advertising on healthcare issues. HB 1205 includes television, radio, billboard, and digital ads. It would protect consumers by banning ads from using misleading phrases like “medical alert” or other similar terms; using government logos to suggest affiliation with a government entity; and displaying terms like “recall” when a product has not been recalled under state or federal regulations.
The bill would affirmatively require disclaimers that ensure viewers know the advertisement is for legal services and that they should consult their doctor before making any medical decisions. It would also protect consumers’ health information by prohibiting the use or sale of the health information of a person who calls a phone number listed on an ad without their knowledge. The Institute for Legal Reform reports Florida is the latest state to rein in misleading trial lawyer ads, joining Indiana, Kansas, Louisiana, Tennessee, Texas, and West Virginia.
County Health Rankings: The latest report by the County Health Rankings & Roadmaps program at the University of Wisconsin ranks Florida’s 67 counties and those across the nation. In Florida, Collier County was ranked highest on health outcomes, which includes residents’ lifespan, quality of life, health behaviors, clinical care, social and economic factors, and the physical environment. Union County was ranked lowest, despite nearly being in the top third of Florida counties for clinical care.
LMA Newsletter of 5-22-23
