In a gruesome budget year, who's first in line for the few spare dollars available - Florida's schoolchildren or its poorest and frailest residents? ...more

March 27, 2009

A Hillsborough County lawmaker said today that healthcare programs for the aged, disabled and working poor will not be cut despite a $3.4 billion state budget deficit in the coming fiscal year. ...more

March 26, 2009

President Obama's carefully worded speech and press conference Tuesday night left a very important thing unsaid. ...more

March 26, 2009

In December, J.D. Power and Associates praised WellCare Health Plans Inc. for "outstanding customer service experience" in handling customer calls about their Medicaid and Medicare benefits with WellCare. ...more

March 22, 2009

The federal stimulus package includes important provisions related to the administration of Florida's Medicaid program. The stimulus bill provides a temporary increase in the federal match of Medicaid costs, which means Florida will pay a lower share for Medicaid services. ...more

March 22, 2009

In December, J.D. Power and Associates praised WellCare Health Plans Inc. for "outstanding customer service experience" in handling customer calls about their Medicaid and Medicare benefits with WellCare. Two months later, federal regulators suspended Tampa-based WellCare from signing up new Medicare clients, citing "persistent" failures to handle customer appeals and "immediate need" calls, such as patients unable to get critical drugs entitled to them. ...more

March 20, 2009

With the slumping economy having left countless local families in a financial crisis, pro golfer Lee Janzen teamed up with Metropolitan Ministries and Feed the Children to help. ...more

March 17, 2009

In 2007, there were 79 million Americans who reported medical debt or problems paying medical bills. Of that number, 25 percent faced medical debt of $5,000 or more. ...more

March 14, 2009

Elizabeth Rick of New Port Richey wishes she qualified for a free cell phone, like people on Medicaid or receiving food stamps. ...more

March 14, 2009

Gov. Charlie Crist says Florida is applying for its first installment of federal Medicaid stimulus money. ...more

March 9, 2009