How Florida became the national leader at denying health insurance to kids

In this episode: Florida has become a national leader…at kicking kids off health insurance. Over the past year or so, politicians in Tallahassee have presided over a brutish purge of state insurance rolls, defied federal rules meant to keep kids covered, and slow-walked a bipartisan expansion plan that was supposed to ensure medical care for more children. Joan Alker, a professor at Georgetown University and national health-policy expert, has has been sounding the alarm about Florida’s actions. She joins the show to explain what’s happened.

Show notes:

A few helpful resources and articles:

Florida’s children’s healthcare report card

What is the impact of unwinding on Medicaid enrollment?

Child Medicaid Disenrollment Data Shows Wide Variation in State Performance as Continuous Coverage Pandemic Protections Lifted

State of Florida Files Legal Challenge to Weaken Continuous Coverage Protection for Children in CHIP Nationwide

A Deeper Dive into Florida’s Lawsuit Seeking to Undermine the New Requirement for 12-Months Continuous Eligibility for Children in Separate State CHIP Programs

Florida’s Governor Spends Taxpayer Money on Lawyers to Further Delay Covering Children

Biden administration OKs Florida KidCare waiver

Thanks but no thanks: State turns down Florida KidCare waiver approval

DeSantis health officials to delay KidCare expansion until after Trump takes office

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