(Tuesday, March 12, 2013 – Tallahassee)  Late yesterday, a select Senate committee formed to help chart Florida’s course under the federal health care overhaul voted to reject the idea of expanding the state’s Medicaid system.  Though the committee’s decision mirrors a prior one taken last week in the House, the Senate panel suggested a slightly different tact:  Accept the federal funds to help low-income Floridians purchase private health insurance.

(Friday, March 8, 2013 – Tallahassee) Following the traditional fanfare and wide assortment of speeches marking their opening day for the 2013 Session on Tuesday of this week, lawmakers got down to the nuts-and-bolts task of hearing and revising proposed bills at the committee level.  Much of the Legislature’s work, particularly in the beginning weeks of the session, takes place at the committee level.  Each proposed bill is heard, public testimony is offered, amendments are possibly adopted and final votes are taken, all part of the arduous maze a proposed idea must successfully navigate before it wins the right to a final hearing, debate and vote on the full floor of each chamber.

(From ACA Week In Review, February 23, 2013)On Wednesday, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) released its final rule on essential benefit design – virtually reconfirming the administration's initial policy that shifted determination of the issue to the states.