Attached a link to a recent article published in the NYT http://www.nytimes.com/2011/08/01/us/01florida.html pointing out that despite having the country’s fourth-highest unemployment rate, its second-highest rate of people without insurance and a $3.7 billion budget gap this year, the Florida has turned away scores of millions of dollars in grants made available under the Affordable Care Act. And it is not pursuing grants worth many millions more.
Although Florida is the fourth most populous state, it ranks 12th in the amount of money received from health care act grants, according to the government’s grant-tracking Web site. The law has directed $46.4 million to the state out of $1.98 billion awarded nationally. Much of the money has gone directly to local governments, community groups and medical providers. The Florida government even went so far to deny funding for community health centers! Three of four grants to expand community health clinics in Florida went to medical centers that are beyond the reach of the governor and the Legislature. The fourth was to the Osceola County Health Department, which under Florida law is effectively a unit of state government. The Legislature used its power to not authorize a grant won by the county to expand two health centers and build a third.
This represents not only irresponsible ideology driven behavior but it also threatens the fragile health of our communities.
Its time to raise our voices and to act as responsible citizens of our great state of Florida.
Yours
Bernd
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