Senate Workshops Health Care Solutions for FloridaTuesday, the full Senate attended a workshop to discuss the health care challenges facing the state of Florida. The Senate heard from a panel of experts regarding the Senates Plan for Medicaid Sustainability which includes a modified Low Income Pool (LIP) model and the Florida Health Insurance Affordability Exchange (FHIX) program. The FHIX program is a consumer-driven approach to providing access to high-quality, affordable health care coverage while promoting personal responsibility through premium payments and work or education requirements. The Senate Plan directs more funds to increase base hospital rates and more broadly distributes LIP dollars.

Amy Baker, Chief Economist with the Office of Economic and Demographic Research provided a presentation on the economic impact of the Senates proposed health care solutions. If the Senates revised LIP model is not accepted by Washington, D.C., and if the state loses LIP funding, Florida will face economic hardships including the loss of $6.46 billion in federal funding over five years, 20,000 jobs, an exodus of high-skilled health care industry experts, $11 billion in disposable personal income, and $612 million in state revenues. This loss of economic activity will be difficult to mitigate for our state.

Also discussed, was the ability of the Senates FHIX program to be an economic generator for the Sunshine State. After evaluating the Senate proposal, the Office of Economic and Demographic Research determined the FHIX program would be a self-funding programmeaning the savings it produced for the state would surpass the states costs. The FHIX plan will save Floridians $1.3 billion over five years and will extend health care coverage to more than 800,000 Floridians. It is clear that Floridas health care challenges will have an economic impact on the State of Florida; ensuring that it is a positive one is the goal of the Florida Senate. Earlier this week, the Senates LIP Proposal was submitted to the Centers for Medicaid and Medicare Services (CMS) onbehalf of the State of Florida and we are hopeful our federal partners will determine theSenate Plan as the acceptable model to address Floridas health care issues.

Senate Bill 172 Local Government Pension ReformMany local governments across Florida are facing an impending financial crisis. Over thecourse of time, some municipalities have overextended benefits and pension plans for local police and firefighters while other local governments have put into place competitive retirement packages that are fully funded. Floridas first responders deserveto have confidence that the retirement benefits promised to them will be delivered. Thisis why the Florida Senate unanimously approved Senate Bill 172, Government Pension Reform to establish a long-term strategy to ensure tax revenues are responsibly used to provide benefits which are reflective of their service and employment duties.

The bill motivates stakeholders to mutually consent to the use of premium tax revenuesto fund the retirement plans of police and firefighters. The legislation contains a methodfor distributing premium tax revenue that is dependent on a pension plans funded status, triggered only when an agreement between the parties cannot be achieved through the collective bargaining process. In addition, the bill allows those communitieswhich have already come to an agreement on the use of insurance premium tax revenue prior to March 3, 2015, to continue that arrangement. Senate Bill 172 is currently waiting to be heard in the Florida House of Representatives.

House Bill 4017 Pain Management ClinicsOn Wednesday, the Senate took up and approved, with bipartisan support, House Bill 4017, Pain Management Clinics to prevent the repeal of the regulation of pain management clinics on January 1, 2016. The Florida Legislature, along with Governor Scott and Attorney General Bondi, have worked diligently to crack down on pill mills inFlorida since 2009 when legislation was initially passed to create a prescription drug monitoring database and establish regulation of pain management clinics. In 2011, the legislature enhanced regulations, but included a sunset provision. HB 4017 repeals the sunset provision to further curtail the abuse of pain medications and doctor shopping in Florida. Floridas laws are proving successfulsince 2010, the state has closed a total of1,261 pain management clinics and the total number of clinics registered in Florida has fallen from 941 to 359.

2

Senate Bill 7028 Education Opportunities for VeteransThis week, the Senate and House of Representatives approved, with bipartisan support,Senate Bill 7028 Education Opportunities for Veterans to expand out-of-state tuition waivers under the Congressman C.W. Bill Young Veteran Tuition Waiver Program to eligible veterans and dependents residing in Florida. Florida has the third largest population of veterans in the nation with more than 1.6 million veterans. This legislationwill ensure Florida remains the most veteran-friendly state. SB 7028 helps Florida achieve this goal by expanding last years legislation requiring state universities, colleges, specified career centers, and technical career centers to waive out-of-state fees for veterans who reside in Florida and who are receiving educational assistance through the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. This bill provides access to educational and technical opportunities to veterans at the same cost as residents of ourstate and supports veterans in attaining career and professional goals after serving in the military.

3