DCF

Disability Rights Florida claims in its lawsuit that the data would help in monitoring psychiatric hospitals. The organization says it did not receive the information after making a public records request.

The state discovered a glitch in its Medicaid eligibility system. The problem, alleged in court testimony, led to new mothers wrongly losing their insurance coverage.

The federal program offers disaster flexibilities that can make it easier for people to sign up for coverage and get treatments faster. A coalition of health and labor groups want the state to take full advantage.

The website will include educational materials on pregnancy and parenting, maternal health services, prenatal and postnatal services, programs for fathers, adoption services and more.

People with disabilities say they are abruptly losing their Medicaid home health benefits and are being advised incorrectly when they call state offices for more information.

In response to the report, a DCF official says the state's outreach strategy went "above and beyond" federal requirements and "any notion that Florida has failed in this process is false."

The decision does not end the case, as the revised lawsuit with additional plaintiffs will continue. But it will push back consideration of an injunction and class certification.

The December update shows that over 911,000 Floridians were disenrolled from Medicaid since DCF began its redetermination process in April. Of that total, about 420,000 were children.

Florida Hospital Association president Mary Mayhew tells "The Florida Roundup" that she hopes people can start benefitting from the program within the year.

Attorneys for the state say records that the state requested in August were improperly withheld.