Current:Home > MyFlorida agencies are accused in a lawsuit of sending confusing Medicaid termination notices-LoTradeCoin
Florida agencies are accused in a lawsuit of sending confusing Medicaid termination notices
View Date:2024-12-23 22:44:43
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (AP) — Three Florida residents filed a federal lawsuit Tuesday, alleging that state agencies aren’t adequately notifying low-income and disabled people that their public health insurance is ending.
The class-action lawsuit was filed in Jacksonville federal court by the Florida Health Justice Project and the National Health Law Program on behalf of the three Floridians, according to court records. The defendants are the Florida Agency for Health Care Administration and the Florida Department of Children and Families.
The agencies didn’t immediately respond to emails seeking comment.
More than 182,000 Floridians have been issued termination notices since April, when a coronavirus policy that banned states from dropping people from Medicaid ended, while hundreds of thousands more are expected to lose coverage over the next year, the residents claim in the lawsuit.
Many of the low-income people who are losing coverage have no idea whether the state is making the right decision or how to challenge their loss of coverage, they argue. The residents are asking for an end to the current notification process and for coverage to be reinstated to people who previously received the faulty termination notices.
The state agencies have known since 2018 that the notices were confusing but have continued to use them, leaving many without coverage for critical care, prescriptions, vaccinations and postpartum care, Sarah Grusin, an attorney for the National Health Law Program, said in a statement.
“Fundamental due process requires the State to ensure that people receive adequate, meaningful notice of the State’s decision and the opportunity to challenge it before coverage is terminated,” Grusin said. “This is not happening.”
The National Health Law Program said this is the first lawsuit amid the nationwide Medicaid unwinding, with nearly 4 million people across the U.S. being cut from Medicaid since this spring.
Amanda Avery, another attorney for the National Health Law Program, said in a statement that the scope of Florida’s terminations is particularly egregious but that similar patterns are seen in many other states.
“For months, advocates have been warning state and federal agencies that the end of the COVID-19 public health emergency and the Medicaid unwinding process would lead to massive coverage losses for people who are still eligible for Medicaid,” Aver said. “We are seeing that play out in real time.”
veryGood! (26)
Related
- Flurry of contract deals come as railroads, unions see Trump’s election looming over talks
- This man's recordings spent years under a recliner — they've now found a new home
- 2 people charged after Hitler speeches blared on train intercom in Austria
- From Charizard to Mimikyu: NPR staff's favorite Pokémon memories on Pokémon Day
- Rep. Michael McCaul of Texas says he was detained in airport over being ‘disoriented’
- Transcript: Rep. Tony Gonzales on Face the Nation, May 14, 2023
- Who gets the first peek at the secrets of the universe?
- EVs are expensive. These city commuters ditched cars altogether — for e-bikes
- Caitlin Clark shanks tee shot, nearly hits fans at LPGA's The Annika pro-am
- Willie Mae Thornton was a foremother of rock. These kids carry her legacy forward
Ranking
- GM recalls 460k cars for rear wheel lock-up: Affected models include Chevrolet, GMC, Cadillac
- 2 Palestinians killed in West Bank raid; Israel and Palestinian militants trade fire in Gaza
- 'Resident Evil 4' Review: A bold remake that stands on its own merits
- From TV to Telegram to TikTok, Moldova is being flooded with Russian propaganda
- Philadelphia mass transit users face fare hikes of more than 20% and possible service cuts
- Scientists identify new species of demon catshark with white shiny irises
- Most of us are still worried about AI — but will corporate America listen?
- Who gets the first peek at the secrets of the universe?
Recommendation
-
Jeep slashes 2025 Grand Cherokee prices
-
Why Jax Taylor Wasn’t Surprised By Tom Sandoval’s Affair With Raquel Leviss
-
'The Last of Us' game actors and creator discuss the show's success
-
Alix Earle Teases New Romance 3 Months After Tyler Wade Breakup
-
Powerball winning numbers for Nov. 13 drawing: Jackpot rises to $113 million
-
'The Last of Us' game actors and creator discuss the show's success
-
This man's recordings spent years under a recliner — they've now found a new home
-
Lea Michele's 2-Year-Old Son Ever Leo Hospitalized for Scary Health Issue