Topic: Low Income Pool

The eight-member delegation is worried a new funding formula for hospitals will lead to steep cuts in two Jacksonville-area hospitals.

This week the PSC discusses law changes concerning nuclear cost recovery, John Errol Ferguson is scheduled to be executed, the Cabinet meets to discuss USF's request to continue its Dozier research, DEP holds a meeting to discuss Silver Springs restoration, Enterprise Florida holds its quarterly meetings, U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson speaks to a friendly crowd and several revenue estimating conferences are scheduled.

The 2012 Session of the Legislature begins this week with the joint session in the Capitol on Tuesday where Gov. Rick Scott will give the State of the State address. The House Redistricting Subcommittees meet Monday and could finish up their work on the redistricting maps.

A final report suggests hospital districts be replaced by indigent boards where money can "follow the patient" instead. It's one of a handful of controversial recommendations included in the Florida Commission on Review of Taxpayer Funded Hospital Districts report released Tuesday.

This will be another short week because Monday was a paid holiday for state workers. However, the Office of Economic and Demographic Research holds several revenue estimating conferences to consider Florida's economic outlook, and deadlines loom for amendments to the House Redistricting Committee's proposed committee bills and maps.

The federal government could approve Florida's long sought-after waiver on Thursday, the same day that a temporary extension of the current waiver expires. Florida officials have been seeking the waiver - which would keep intact a current pilot program - for the past 18 months.

The Low Income Pool Council refused to vote on recommendations for $1 billion worth of health care spending because of a push by the federal government to direct spending on $50 million worth of it.

This week there's a training session for LobbyTools subscribers, the Florida Legislative Everglades Caucus announces its creation, and the Senate deadline looms for submitting requests for drafts of general bills and joint resolutions.

State officials said Tuesday that the federal government has agreed to allow use of the low income pool money for the next three years to help pay the health care costs for people without adequate insurance coverage.

The Week Ahead includes the beginning of insurance open enrollment for state workers, a LobbyTools training session, university system Board of Governors meetings and a meeting of the Revenue Estimating Impact Conference.

Acting Medicaid Director Justin Senior says that after months of negotiations not much has changed. Low Income Pool funding remains the obstacle as the state and federal government continue Medicaid negotiations.

Among the events this week are the Public Service Commission meeting to consider the nuclear power cost recovery clause, the Florida Energy Summit, the Revenue Estimating Impact Conference, an appearance by U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio at a fundraiser for State Sen. Steve Oelrich, an appearance by first lady Michelle Obama at fundraiser in Davie, and the Florida Democratic Party convention.

Data analyzed by a Florida State University suggests that government-run hospitals may more expensive to run, but some members of a commission created to study the issue want additional analysis done of the data.

This is the seventh time the federal government has agreed to extend Florida's sweeping Medicaid 1115 waiver. The extension good through Halloween.