#Florida Medicaid

[zinniajones]

These "expert" pediatricians were paid by a far-right legal group to come up with evidence to attack the WPATH transgender standards of care

What this is: Leaked documents show the anti-LGBT legal group Alliance Defending Freedom paying manufactured experts to attack WPATH’s transgender standards of care, asking them to find evidence for harmful anti-trans myths that they knew were baseless and unsubstantiated. This is an original finding and report by Zinnia Jones (she/her), a transgender Florida resident of 11 years whose access to HRT is now jeopardized by the enactment of state law and policy based on work from these same experts.

Detailed summary: From 2019 onward, states across the US have been faced with an intensely active wave of reused anti-trans experts, recurring characters who keep repeating the same spurious arguments against gender-affirming care in court cases, legislatures, and other policy bodies. Where did they come from, and why did this start happening?

Due to the Florida-based anti-LGBT hate group American College of Pediatricians choosing to set one of their Google Drive folders to be publicly viewable by anyone, files were released this month showing the contents of their staff’s communications and other working notes over several years.

These documents included records of the Alliance Defending Freedom - another hate group who are also responsible for bringing the mifepristone case with ACP as a plaintiff - approaching ACP's leaders in 2018 and 2019 to offer them a grant of $10,000 or more. The ADF wanted the pediatricians “to draft a white paper that refutes the WPATH Standards of Care”, “for use in litigation and should also benefit many other allies at State and Federal Level”.

ACP’s president Quentin Van Meter and executive director Michelle Cretella promptly got to work on this “Special Project”, and the ADF hosted expert witness workshops at ACP's conferences. ACP members including Van Meter went on to present anti-trans testimony in several ADF-litigated cases and ADF-involved trans youth care bans.

In May 2022, Van Meter authored a sham report for Florida Medicaid to justify their trans coverage exclusion, mostly drawing from previous ACP position statements; court filings later revealed Michelle Cretella was recommended by the Florida governor’s office, and she pointed the way to all the other anti-trans experts hired by Florida in 2022 to support the Medicaid exclusion of transition care.

One notable document found in the ACP’s drive contains “Transgender Research Requests”, with the ADF asking Cretella and other ACP leaders to “substantiate” now-commonplace anti-trans talking points. These included bizarre claims by the ADF such as “it is normal during adolescence for children to go through a phase when they identify (to some degree) with the opposite sex”, and “For those who have undergone hormone therapy and genital change surgery, a paper that says they are no happier (and perhaps worse off if the research supports it)”.

The ADF was asking this anti-trans group to come up with anything that could support the arguments they were already planning to make.

This appears to be one of the very sites where those baseless myths about suicide, social contagion and other supposed harms, now regularly repeated in court cases and testimony and uncritically accepted by the mainstream right wing, were conceived and gestated.

These same experts then substantially reused these work products in their reports for Florida Medicaid, a public health agency whose accepted standards determination process is supposed to be a transparent and open-ended evaluation of peer-reviewed medical evidence.

Altogether, these documents appear to demonstrate a paid smear by a hate group and right-wing law firm against a leading professional transgender healthcare organization following the best available evidence and medical practices, as well as misconduct on the part of ACP experts who reused this work in their reports for a Florida public health agency.

(asks are open)

#transphobia #transgender #trans #Florida #Florida Medicaid #trans youth care ban #trans care ban #Alliance Defending Freedom #American College of Pediatricians #LGBT #tw transphobia #tw homophobia #Ron DeSantis #Florida GOP #SB 254

[justinspoliticalcorner]

Kerry Eleveld at Daily Kos:

When Rick Scott was first running for statewide office in Florida in 2010, he made a mea culpa ad to blunt attacks from his opponents about the massive Medicare fraud he presided over as CEO of a major health care company. "I'm going to do something the politicians won't: give you the unvarnished truth," Scott told voters in an ad titled "Truth.” Scott admitted the health care company he ran, Columbia/HCA, was fined by the federal government.  "I wasn't in charge or even questioned by authorities,” he added. “But that’s not what matters. What matters is that the company made mistakes and, as CEO, I take responsibility and learn from it.” Indeed, mistakes were made—$1.7 billion worth of them, to be exact. It was the largest health care fraud settlement of its kind at the time. But taking personal responsibility was so last decade. Now Scott is reframing that Justice Department investigation as a "political persecution," just like the one Donald Trump is supposedly facing for allegedly falsifying business documents in the ongoing hush money trial.

"I'm fed up," Scott told reporters outside the Manhattan courthouse last week. He was one of a steady stream of Republicans who have flocked to Trump's side in New York. "I watched what happened to me and my company. ... I've talked to business people over the years, what's happened to them when you have political persecution."

On Fox News, Scott went a step further, painting the FBI probe as retribution for opposing "Hillarycare," a reference to President Bill Clinton's failed effort to reform the health care system in the 1990s.

Sen. Rick Scott (R-FL) does a Trump by whining about "political persecution" the investigation into his Medicare fraud he oversaw prior to becoming Florida's Governor.

#Fraud #Florida #Medicaid #Rick Scott #People of New York v. Trump

[theivorybilledwoodpecker]

This is pure evil. It will force low-income trans people to detransition because they can't afford the hormones. As a result, mental health problems, and likely suicides, will spike. This is the legalized murder of trans people.

And for anyone who thinks this won't roll over to hurt cis people, too, you're a fool. If they can ban hormone therapy for gender-affirming care, they can ban hormones for other reasons. Spiranolactone anyone? Medroxyprogesterone? Estradiol? How long before people face scrutiny over every hormone prescription?

This is bad.

Please reblog for awareness.

#Trans rights #Transphobia #Florida #Medicare #Transgender #Suicide #Mental illness #Medicaid

[ensurembs]

Qualifications for Patient Eligibility with Medicaid

Medicaid is a joint venture of state and federal programs whose aim is to facilitate low-income families and individuals with healthcare coverage. The patient eligibility criteria to qualify for this program is that one must be a state resident in which they receive this insurance program. The patient must be either United States resident or lawful permanent resident (non-citizen). Furthermore, some eligibility groups are limited by pregnancy, age, disability, or parenting status. In some states, Medicaid programs have expanded to cover older adults below a certain income level. Patient eligibility criteria for this program vary from state to state due to particular states’ Medicaid programs. However, specific qualification criteria for the Medicaid program are mandatory for all states to follow. The article will discuss the fundamental requirements for the eligibility of patients. Read More…

For further details and daily updates, Follow us on LinkedIn or Visit.

#medical billing outsourcing #medical billing service companies #healthcare #medical billing solutions #hospital #medical billing florida #physician #cardiology #medicaid

[haldenlith]

Partially for shits and giggles, I filled out an eligibility form for the ACA health insurance supplement, since the last day is tomorrow (a reminder for anyone that still needs to apply for coverage). I say for shits and giggles because, well, it's been a long time since I've qualified. I didn't even make enough when I was working, so I definitely don't now that I, theoretically, have no income.

As expected, it said I wasn't eligible.

For further torture shits and giggles, I decided to see how much health insurance runs, these days. The cheapest, shittiest coverage I could get was roughly $370/month. When I put into the filter that I'd need something that could cater to someone with heart problems (and depression), that number jumped up to $470/month.

Man, I hate it here.

All I want is to be able to go to the doctor without needing to sell my kidneys to pay for it.

#haldie vents #and no I'm not eligible for Medicaid either #because as far as Florida is concerned #I'm able-bodied enough to get a job #and work myself to death for the privilege of having healthcare

[dontmeantobepoliticalbut]

Hundreds of thousands of poor Floridians have been kicked off Medicaid in recent weeks as their Republican Governor, Ron DeSantis, travels the country for his 2024 presidential bid and rakes in campaign cash from big donors.

Florida is among the states that have begun unwinding pandemic-era rules barring states from removing people from Medicaid during the public health emergency. Late last year, Congress reached a bipartisan deal to end the so-called continuous coverage requirements, opening the door to a massive purge of the lifesaving healthcare program.

A dozen states have released early data on the number of people removed from Medicaid as they restart eligibility checks, a cumbersome process that many people fail to navigate.

So far, the statistics are alarming: More than 600,000 people across the U.S. have been stripped of Medicaid coverage since April, according to a KFF Health News analysis of the available data, and "the vast majority were removed from state rolls for not completing paperwork" rather than confirmed ineligibility.

Nearly 250,000 people who have been booted from Medicaid live in Florida, whose Governor is a longtime opponent of public healthcare programs. As HuffPost's Jonathan Cohn wrote Sunday, DeSantis "has refused to support the ACA's Medicaid expansion for the state, which is the biggest reason that more than 12% of Floridians don't have health insurance."

"That's the fourth-highest rate in the country," Cohn noted.

But DeSantis, who has said he wants to "make America Florida," appears unmoved by the staggering number of people losing Medicaid in his state as he hits the campaign trail. The Governor relied heavily on large contributors to bring in more than $8 million during the first 24 hours of his presidential bid.

Prior to formally launching his 2024 campaign, DeSantis traveled the country in private jets on the dime of rich and sometimes secret donors, and he is currently facing a Federal Election Commission complaint for unlawfully transferring more than $80 million from a state committee to a super PAC supporting his White House bid.

Late last month, DeSantis' administration insisted it "has a robust outreach campaign" aimed at ensuring people are aware of the hoops they have to jump through to keep their Medicaid coverage, such as income verification.

In Florida, a four-person household must make less than $39,900 in annual income to qualify for Medicaid.

The state's early data indicates that 44% of those who have lost coverage in recent weeks were removed for procedural reasons, like a failure to return paperwork on time.

The figures have drawn outrage from local advocates, who urged DeSantis late last month to pause the Medicaid redetermination process after hearing reports of people losing coverage without receiving any notice from Florida's chronically understaffed Department of Children and Families (DCF).

"One of these individuals is a seven-year-old boy in remission from Leukemia who is now unable to access follow-up—and potentially lifesaving—treatments," a coalition of groups including the Florida Policy Institute and the Florida Health Justice Project wrote to DeSantis. "Families with children have been erroneously terminated, and parents are having trouble reaching the DCF call center for help with this process. Additionally, unclear notices and lack of information on how to appeal contribute to more confusion."

Citing Miriam Harmatz, advocacy director and founder of the Florida Health Justice Project, KFF Health News reported last week that "some cancellation notices in Florida are vague and could violate due process rules."

"Letters that she's seen say 'your Medicaid for this period is ending' rather than providing a specific reason for disenrollment, like having too high an income or incomplete paperwork," the outlet noted. "If a person requests a hearing before their cancellation takes effect, they can stay covered during the appeals process. Even after being disenrolled, many still have a 90-day window to restore coverage."

The Congressional Budget Office recently estimated that around 15.5 million people—including 5 million children—are likely to lose Medicaid coverage nationwide over the next year and a half as states resume eligibility checks made necessary by a system that doesn't guarantee healthcare to all as a right.

"Many people don't realize that they've been disenrolled from Medicaid until they show up at the pharmacy to get their prescription refilled or they have a doctor's appointment scheduled," Jennifer Tolbert, director of state health reform at the Kaiser Family Foundation, told The Washington Post last week.

#us politics #news #common dreams #2023 #florida #gov. ron desantis #medicaid #affordable care act #KFF Health News #Jonathan Cohn #huffington post #Federal Election Commission #misuse of campaign funds #campaign finance laws #campaign funding #campaign fundraising #2024 republican primaries #2024 presidential race #2024 elections #Department of Children and Families #Florida Policy Institute #Florida Health Justice Project #Miriam Harmatz #Congressional Budget Office #Jennifer Tolbert #Kaiser Family Foundation #the washington post #medicare for all #healthcare is a human right

[citizen-zero]

someone realizing they’re not actually trans and retransitioning, that’s fine, I support them. genuinely! I don’t care if someone realizes they’re cis after all.

but it grinds my fucking gears seeing someone regret their initial transition, decide that their experience must be universal, and then dedicate their time to making it harder for trans people (esp kids) to access gender affirming healthcare. it is literally the same logic as anti-choice fuckers who think that, because THEY regret THEIR abortion, no one else should be able to access the same care or be able to safely make the same choice.

retransitioning to your AGAB is not a betrayal by any means whatsoever. everyone needs to be comfortable with their bodies and sense of self. but then using your experience to advocate against others’ rights?

how fucking dare you try to pull the ladder up behind you and make it harder for others to live comfortably. how dare you side with the oppressor, just because you’re so fucking incapable of thinking about anyone but yourself or fathoming that anyone could possibly have a different experience than you. THAT is treachery.

#I shouldn’t have to say this but obviously this is not every retrans person #I just saw a story about a girl who testified in florida against allowing Medicaid to pay for GA care #and I want to have compassion for her bc she is a child and I don’t entirely believe she wasn’t pressured to retrans #but there are others like her and I do consider those people full traitors #you don’t get to take out your regret and trauma on the rest of us #personal #erika's blog and bar

[tomorrowusa]

I keep telling everybody, you need to take more interest in state government and state politics. A whole lot more.

Abortion, gun regulation, LGBT rights, Medicaid expansion, gerrymandering, voting rights, school censorship, and law enforcement issues are being decided at the state level. Many states fully controlled by Republicans are unleashing a flood of repressive laws. They depend on citizens generally paying little attention to what goes on in state legislatures.

Clashes between Democrats and Republicans over issues like abortion and guns, which could also shape future voting laws and electoral maps, foreshadow the great debates to come in the 2024 presidential campaign. These simmering conflicts also reflect a nation divided over its cultural and political identity and show how sometimes small shifts in the balance of power can have momentous consequences.  

In Wisconsin – one of the most competitive swing states in recent presidential elections – a liberal judge won a race for a state Supreme Court seat Tuesday in a victory that could restore abortion rights in the state and lead to the redrawing of maps that the GOP had shaped to their advantage. The magnitude of her victory – by around 200,000 votes – will ring alarm bells for the GOP.  

In North Carolina, Republicans were celebrating after a Democratic state representative, who was elected by a nearly 20-point margin a few months ago, flipped to the GOP this week, giving the party veto-proof majorities in both state legislative chambers as they seek new curbs on abortion and more restrictive election laws.  

America’s tortured divide on firearms is driving an extraordinary showdown in Tennessee. Instead of working to combat mass shootings after last week’s massacre at a Nashville school, Republican state legislators want to kick out three Democrats who joined a gun control protest.  

National Democrats are, meanwhile, looking at Chicago, where Bernie Sanders-backed progressive Brandon Johnson won Tuesday’s mayoral runoff. He beat a moderate with a tough-on-crime message by making a more nuanced pitch than his previous support for calls to “defund the police.” (Johnson said during the campaign he didn’t want to slash police funding.)  

And Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, who says his state is a laboratory for a more conservative America ahead of his possible White House bid, signed a bill into law earlier this week allowing people to carry concealed guns without a permit. The state Senate also passed a highly restrictive 6-week abortion ban Monday.  

The GOP US Supreme Court’s Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization decision has punted abortion law back into the hands of state governments. It also unintentionally served as a reminder of how much power each individual state has.

But political brushfires that begin in states can later rage at the national level and define future general election clashes. It’s already clear, for example, that gender and transgender issues will be a dominant question in 2024, as Republicans slam Democrats for embracing policies that they describe as “woke.” 

One of the more notorious GOP governors, Ron DeSantis of Florida, is constantly screaming “WOKE! WOKE! WOKE!” at the top of his lungs to attract far right 2024 Republican primary voters. But the worst part is that he’s getting his gerrymandered legislature to rubber stamp repressive laws to help his prospects for getting the Republican presidential nomination. One of Ronnie’s extremist positions is to ban abortion after six weeks in Florida.

The hardline abortion policy might allow DeSantis to solidify a message that he’d be a more effective conservative leader than Trump. But it’s also the kind of positioning that would offer Democrats an opening should be become the Republican nominee.

Floridians need to take names; closely monitor the votes of legislators is a must to hold them responsible for their votes – whatever the excuse given.

The first step in taking back control of state governments from extremists is to find out exactly who is representing you in the legislature.

In any state (red or blue, regardless of region) you can use this link to get the names of the people who are making laws in your name.

Find Your Legislators Look your legislators up by address or use your current location.

Once you know who they are, start following them in the news. Keep like-minded people in your district informed about their actions, or lack of action, at your state capitol.

State politics should get just as much attention as federal and local politics.

#state government #state politics #state legislature #abortion #dobbs v. jackson women's health organization #a woman's right to choose #the sanctity of reproductive freedom #lgbtq+ #lgbt rights #trans rights #gun regulation #gerrymandering #voting rights #law enforcement #florida #ron desantis #north carolina #wisconsin #tennessee #medicaid expansion #who represents you in your state legislature #school censorship #book censorship #election 2024 #stephen collinson

[geezerwench]

Republican senator Rick Scott of Florida keeps talking about "sun setting" all laws, regulations, and statutes every five years.

He's the one who defrauded Medicare, Medicaid, and other federal programs and got away with it.

Why Floridians were so damn stupid to elect him, reward him is beyond me.

But floridians like their chubby hitler DeSantis ...

#Rick Scott #the penis with ears #Florida #stupid floridians #Medicare #Medicaid #Social Security #chubby hitler DeSantis #Ron DeSantis #fucking Republicans #republicans #Stonekettle

[zinniajones]

I'm glad I left twitter because otherwise I would have spent all day tweeting out things I found from the latest court filings in the Florida Medicaid trans care ban case Dekker v. Weida, including these diagrams from the Executive Office of the Governor in June 2022, charting out the process of the supposed evidence review - but pre-defining the outcome to follow in July-September 2022 as "care effectively banned"

Doc 182-36

Doc 182-35

And although the Florida Agency of Health Care Administration was intended to develop its Generally Accepted Professional Medical Standards determinations through an open-ended objective evaluation of the available scientific evidence regardless of the outcome, this exhibit shows that the work output of these agencies was instead designated as a *confidential attorney work product*

Doc 182-34

This is a completely fixed process and beyond corrupt, it's so blatant and I'm disgusted

#Florida #transphobia #Medicaid #AHCA #DeSantis #Ron DeSantis #Florida Medicaid #Florida AHCA #trans care ban #trans care exclusion #Rule 59G-1.050(7)

[arlo-venn]

You guys think I might need a new handicapped tag…? 😅

I love how the government agrees I am disabled enough that I can’t walk through a parking lot but says I’m abled enough to work a job lol

#it crumbles more every time I touch it #I had two #they both did this #Tyrell did it somehow (at least to this one) #I don’t remember what happened to the first one #wondering if I should get a new one for $5 or get the license plate one for $15 #idk if I need a new doctors note to get it replaced or not which is why I’ve been putting it off #I wonder if you can do it online #hey in Ohio they call the dmv the bmv #ain’t that sumthin #in NJ it’s like mvd and sometimes bmv #florida was bmv #I think Arizona was also bmv but I didn’t have a license when I lived there so I forget #I wonder what it is in Kentucky and Indiana #I live very near the border to both #oh maybe I should look for doctors in Indiana #I wonder if they have that stupid Medicaid law

[gwydionmisha]

#Florida #Medicaid #Gender-Affirming Care #Transphobia #News

[lemieuxjacoby1]

Medicaid Planning Lawyer Florida - Lemieux Jacoby

Introduction

Medicaid planning is a critical aspect of financial and estate planning, especially for individuals seeking long-term care or assistance with medical expenses. In Florida, where the population of older adults is growing, the need for effective Medicaid planning has become increasingly important. This article delves into the significance of Medicaid planning, the role of a Medicaid planning lawyer Florida, and how firms like Lemieux Jacoby in Florida can assist individuals in navigating this complex terrain.

Understanding Medicaid Planning

Medicaid is a joint federal and state program that provides health coverage to individuals with low income and limited resources. For seniors or individuals requiring long-term care, Medicaid can be a crucial resource to cover medical expenses not typically covered by Medicare or private insurance. However, Medicaid eligibility is subject to strict income and asset limits, making proper planning essential to qualify without depleting one's life savings.

Medicaid planning involves a variety of legal and financial strategies aimed at structuring assets and income to meet Medicaid's requirements while preserving wealth for loved ones. This can include setting up trusts, transferring assets, and engaging in other financial planning techniques to ensure eligibility while maximizing benefits.

The Role of a Medicaid Planning Lawyer

A Medicaid planning lawyer Florida plays a vital role in assisting individuals and families in navigating the complexities of Medicaid regulations. These legal professionals have in-depth knowledge of Medicaid laws and regulations, allowing them to develop customized strategies that align with their clients' unique circumstances. By working with a Medicaid planning lawyer, individuals can ensure their assets are protected, and their long-term care needs are met without jeopardizing their financial well-being.

Lemieux Jacoby: A Trusted Partner in Florida

Lemieux Jacoby is a prominent law firm in Florida known for its expertise in Medicaid planning and elder law. With a team of experienced attorneys specializing in asset protection, estate planning, and long-term care planning, Lemieux Jacoby offers comprehensive services to individuals seeking to navigate the complexities of Medicaid.

Through personalized consultations and tailored solutions, Lemieux Jacoby helps clients understand their Medicaid options, develop effective planning strategies, and secure their financial future. By leveraging their legal expertise and deep understanding of Medicaid regulations, the firm assists clients in achieving Medicaid eligibility while safeguarding their assets for future generations.

Conclusion

In conclusion, Medicaid planning is a crucial aspect of financial and estate planning, particularly for individuals in need of long-term care. By working with a reputable firm like Lemieux Jacoby in Florida, individuals can access the expertise and guidance necessary to navigate the complexities of Medicaid regulations successfully. Through strategic planning and proactive legal support, individuals can secure their financial well-being and ensure their long-term care needs are met. Whether you are planning for your own future or that of a loved one, engaging with a Medicaid planning lawyer Florida make all the difference.

#Medicaid Planning Lawyer Florida

[covering-central-florida]

💙 We understand how challenging it can be when your family loses #Medicaid coverage. But don't worry, our Navigators are here to provide a free helping hand during this transition to explore your other options 🤝 Call us at 877-564-5031 or visit coveringcfl.net 📞

#Medicaid #Florida #Orlando #OrangeCounty #MarketplaceSEP #HealthCare #CCFL #getcovered #apopka #centralfl #centralflorida #healthinsurance #specialenrollment #spanishspeaker #portuguesespeaker #creolespeaker

[cakemagemaeve]

My AC is broken. This may not seem like a big deal, but I live in Florida, so...yeah. On top of that, 9 years ago I had my uterus and ovaries removed, and unfortunately they removed my heat tolerance with them and left twice-an-hour-minimum hot flashes in its place. So this is not optimal.

My fridge is broken. The repair people can't make it out until tomorrow.

I have a sinus infection and have had a splitting headache all day.

My pharmacy is out of my dosage of pain medication, so my pain doctor sent the prescription to another pharmacy that doesn't take Medicaid. Buying from them (even with a discount card) is going to take a chunk out of my bank account.

I called the doctor to find out if they could alter the dose for just one fucking month, but no, I have to call every. Fucking. Pharmacy. within 30 miles. After several hours on the phone (did I mention that I hate talking on the phone--especially with strangers--with a fiery passion? Because I hate talking on the phone with a fiery passion!) I discovered that there are ZERO pharmacies in the area that both take Medicaid AND have my dosage of pain medication available.

I called the doctor again to tell him this. He was utterly unmoved and told me to just pay for the prescription or wait for it to come back in stock, because I'm sure my numerous sources of chronic pain would all be willing to give me a break for a week or so until the meds get restocked. And it's not like I'm on a fixed income or anything, OH WAIT.

So yeah, I guess you could say I'm a wee bit stressed out! In fact, I think you could, without exaggeration, say that I'm so stressed that if God Himself appeared before me, I would rip out His throat with my teeth!

In conclusion, fuck everything.

#doctors #medicaid #florida sucks #florida healthcare sucks #i am in hell #please kill me #fun with blasphemy

[ncfcatalyst]

“Their blood is on your hands”: Florida Board of Medicine votes to ban gender-affirming care for minors

“Their blood is on your hands”: Florida Board of Medicine votes to ban gender-affirming care for minors

“Their blood is on your hands,” the crowd chanted as the Florida Board of Medicine announced it will only hear one last public comment regarding their ruling to ban gender-affirming care to minors.  It’s been a long time coming. In June, the Board revoked medicaid coverage of gender-affirming care. More recently, on Oct. 28th, the Board is moving forward “to draft a rule to prohibit such…

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#florida board of medicine #gender affirming care #gender dysphoria #medicaid coverage #minors #protests #trans rights