The Florida Senate today approved a proposed 2011-12 budget that would slash hundreds of millions of dollars for hospitals, mental-health services and the Medically Needy program.
Senators voted 33-6 to approve the spending plan. The House is expected to approve its version later today, setting up negotiations on a final budget in the coming weeks.
The budget would cut hospital Medicaid rates by 10 percent and eliminate money for outpatient adult mental-health and substance-abuse services. It also would stop covering hospital and drug costs in April 2012 in the Medically Needy program, which serves people who don't qualify for Medicaid but have debilitating illnesses.
With lawmakers facing a $3.8 billion shortfall for the fiscal year that starts July 1, Sen. Don Gaetz said they had to make cuts. The only alternative, he said, would be to raise taxes.
"None of us wanted to make these decisions,'' the Niceville Republican said.
Senate slashes hospitals, others | Top Story | Health News Florida
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