TALLAHASSEE -- Florida healthcare officials are in no hurry to provide medical coverage for thousands of needy children, even after the Biden Administration this week approved the state's plan to extend low-cost health insurance to them.
The approval issued Monday by the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services would enable 42,000 Florida families to get health insurance for their children at reduced rates through an expansion of the state's KidCare health insurance program.
But that approval is contingent on Florida complying with a federal rule that would prohibit the state from dropping children's coverage during a 12-month period even if they missed a premium payment. Florida is the only state to challenge that rule, and it lost in court.
"The federal agency is making a concerted effort to advance the political priorities of the Biden Administration," said Alecia Collins, deputy chief of staff for the Florida Agency for Health Care Administration.
"It would be wise for CMS to show deference to the incoming administration by allowing them the opportunity to review and approve significant policy initiatives that are likely to impact their time in office," Collins said.
The state agency plans to ask for a 30-day extension of its deadline "to ensure we have an opportunity to work with the new administration on this issue," she added.
"This is truly welcome news for tens of thousands of children in Florida, especially those with medically complex conditions who have been going without healthcare coverage they need due to Florida's delay in implementing the expansion," said Alison Yager, executive director of the Florida Health Justice Project.
"Florida leaders should accept terms to this waiver approval, including preserving 12 months of continuous health care coverage for children, no matter what," agreed Sadif Knight, CEO of the Florida Policy Institute.
Holly Bullard, chief strategy & development officer at the institute, said Florida's response was "another delay tactic" and suggests state administrators "expect new administration overturn continuous coverage provision."
The federal government's decision comes on heels state canceling Medicaid some 532,000 children due controversial Medicaid redetermination process called "unwinding" critics decried flawed and inhumane.
The continuous coverage rule applies Medicaid recipients under 18 as well as KidCare recipients. It means states can no longer disenroll participants during periods continuous eligibility except certain circumstances. It applies current recipients whose income between 133% and 200% federal income level family three as well those eligible under expansion.
Florida admitted it continued disenroll children whose parents failed meet premium payments since rule took effect. The Legislature unanimously approved expansion KidCare March raising household income threshold from 200% 300% U.S. federal poverty level estimated make new children eligible lower premiums.
New payment tiers program supposed take effect first year same time new federal law requires states provide months continuous eligibility children under enrolled Medicaid CHIP without exception. Non-payment premiums not exception new continuous eligibility rule federal agency said.
Florida became only state sue over rule claiming new continuous eligibility requirement create "free all" unlawfully undermines expansion Children's Health Insurance Program.