Rep. Mia Jones Hosts Medicaid Town Hall Meetings

Representative Mia Jones (D-Jacksonville) will host a series of Medicaid Town Hall Meetings to hear from medical providers and patients participating in the Florida Medicaid reform pilot project.

Meetings for people who are enrolled in the Florida Medicaid reform pilot project will be held from 10 a.m. to noon on Monday, Feb. 22, and again at 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Feb. 22. The meetings take place at the Florida State College Jacksonville Downtown Campus Auditorium, 101 W. State Street in Jacksonville.

A meeting for the medical providers will be held at 6 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 23, 2010 at the Florida State College Jacksonville Downtown Campus auditorium, 101 W. State Street in Jacksonville.

A Medicaid reform project was implemented in August 2006 in Broward and Duval counties. In September 2007, Baker, Nassau, and Clay counties were added to the project. The stated goal has been to improve delivery of health care services by making managed care health plans more flexible, improve services provided to Medicaid beneficiaries, and promote competition among the plans. But as of June 2009, according to an Office of Program Policy Analysis and Government Accountability (OPPAGA) report, little data has been attained to determine the project’s success.

“As a member of the Florida Legislature, my goal is to help create a better Medicaid program that focuses on quality patient care,” said Representative Jones. “Unfortunately, many beneficiaries are not receiving the quality care they need and providers are not being compensated for the services they are delivering. Before the pilot program is expanded, there are many questions that need to be answered. Therefore, I am taking the time to carefully listen to all stakeholders in hopes of finding a formula that works for all of the Floridians that we serve.”