Special interest groups interested in health care bills in Florida’s Legislature are spending millions to support state lawmakers, the Herald/Times Tallahassee Bureau reports.
Various legislators and the governor’s re-election campaign received $5.6 million from a dozen different HMO plans, and hospitals have given more than $3.9 million in the election cycle, the Herald/Times reports.
The insurance plans are vying for millions of dollar in mental health contracts, while the hospitals are zeroed in on trying to save $2.6 billion they depend on to help pay for care of the uninsured with the Low Income Pool, according to the Herald/Times.
The Herald/Times reports that both Senate and House leaders are criticizing the influence. House Appropriations Chairman Richard Corcoran, R-Land O’Lakes, says hospital lobbyists are pushing to expand a “broken” Medicaid system.