Florida is going after millions tied to health care reform

Gov. Charlie Crist may be wrestling with his position on federal health care reform but Florida’s state agencies are not. 
The Agency for Health Care Administration worked on a $1 million planning grant for a health insurance exchange, a centerpiece of the Affordable Care Act that has been labeled  “Obamacare" by critics.
It is one of roughly $11 million in grants under the new federal health care law that Florida agencies have requested to date, according to information collected from AHCA, the Office of Insurance Regulation and the Florida Legislature. The move is in stark contrast with states like Minnesota where Gov. Tim Pawlenty this week signed an executive order that blocks that state from seeking federal money tied to the federal health care law.
Crist initially - like Pawlenty - was highly critical of the health care law when he was a Republican seeking the U.S. Senate. But now as an indpendent candidate Crist has come under fire for shifting his stance. Last week Crist was forced to explain that he still wants to repeal the law, but only if a substitute that includes part of the law he favors is adotped first.
When asked if Florida should go after money tied to health care reform, Crist said: "They should go after money to help Florida citizens. Absolutely."
A part of the health care law will be the health exchanges. If awarded the initial grant the state will assess whether Florida should have its own exchange (including scenarios for both private and state-run exchanges), be part of a regional exchange, or cede the exchange to the federal government. The exchanges will serve as a one-stop shopping source where, beginning 2014, people may compare plans and rates and purchase coverage.
According to the grant application, the state will contract with a research university to figure out the numbers of people who are eligible for subsidized plans sold in the exchange, versus Medicaid expansions and employer sponsored coverage. 
Working with the Department of Children and Families will be members of the Consumer Health Information and Policy Advisory Council and the Florida Health Insurance Advisory Board.
The agencies are moving ahead with the grant applications under the Affordable Care Act despite incoming legislative leaders’ clear opposition to the health care reform law. While the agencies don't need legislative approval to seek the money, they are precluded from spending any significant grants without prior approval from lawmakers.
Incoming Senate Democratic leader Sen Nan Rich, D-Weston, said it would be folly for the Legislature to withhold its approval.
"It would be incredible to forgo these dollars," Rich said, adding "it's a good thing these agencies are applying for grants. We should draw down our fair share." 
The Legislature in 2010 passed a joint resolution proposing a constitutional amendment to limit the federal health reform act, although the Florida Supreme Court this week tossed it from the ballot. The Legislature also passed a law bolstering Attorney General Bill McCollum’s ongoing lawsuit to declare federal health care reform unconstitutional.
In his health care solutions tour this summer, incoming Senate President Mike Haridopolos, R-Merritt Island, made clear his opposition to the law.
In addition to applying for the health insurance exchange grant, AHCA has submitted a $3 million grant application to help pay for background checks for long-term care facilities and long-term care providers. The grants will be announced this month. 
Florida has also received $5.8 million in health care workforce funding to help train and pay costs of continuing education, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services announced recently.
Nursing programs received the majority of the money and the University of North Florida, Florida State University, and University of South Florida all received grants. The largest grant -- $551,600 -- was awarded to Adventist Health System Sunbelt in Orlando. In all, 34 universities, colleges and health care facilities received the grants.
The state also received about $816,000 for geriatric training programs at Nova Southeastern University in Ft. Lauderdale and the University of Miami.
Some of the first provisions of the law to take effect are related to health insurance policies and insurance companies. HHS last month awarded to state insurance regulators $1 million to better regulate rates.  A summary of the grant application noted that $644,416 will be spent on salaries and benefits for six employees, including an economist, project coordinator and actuary. Another $270,000 will go to computer contractors to help build a more consumer-friendly website.