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Children’s Medical Change Confusing

Pediatricians are worried the privatization of the state’s Children’s Medical Services program will leave some children without services, the News Service of Florida reports.

Medicaid coverage for these children changes to pre-paid health plans on Aug. 1. Some pediatricians think the transition has been poorly planned and could leave as many as 70,000 children without medical coverage.

Adding to the confusion is that some parents have already chosen a Medicaid HMO, thinking it was part of Children’s Medical Services. They were removed from the program, which helps children with certain developmental, behavioral and cognitive conditions, the News Service reports.

Originally founded in December 2006 as an independent grassroots publication dedicated to coverage of health issues in Florida, Health News Florida was acquired by WUSF Public Media in September 2012.