Letter to Gov. Crist on KidCare Reform

May 8, 2007

The Honorable Charlie Crist
PL-05 The Capitol
400 South Monroe St.
Tallahassee, FL. 32399-0001

Dear Governor Crist:

As you know, one thing left undone at the end of the legislative session was the simplification and restructuring of Florida's Kid Care program.  Presently, more than 700,000 Florida children are without health care. Many, if not most, of these children are eligible for the health insurance programs under KidCare but are unable to navigate it adequately due to its complexity and the artificial barriers the legislature created some years ago.

Ironically, there was a good measure of bipartisan support for KidCare reform and specifically for measures which would have solved many of the problems facing the program.  I have attached a memorandum from Rep. Loranne Ausley, our lead member on Kid Care reform, outlining the issues that were agreed upon and that are outstanding.

It seems to us that you, along with Chief Financial Officer Alex Sink, could lead negotiations over the next month with representatives from the legislature and the provider community to iron out the remaining few details.  If you are able to succeed in forging a final product, we would urge you to include KidCare reform in the June special session for approval by the Legislature.  

While we don't want to distract the legislature from its primary task of delivering property tax relief, if we are able to approve KidCare reform and bring the needed coverage to Florida's uninsured  children  it would be well worth the effort.  

Sincerely,

Rep. Dan Gelber, Democratic Leader
Rep. Joyce Cusack, Democratic Leader Pro Tempore
Rep. Loranne Ausley, Ranking Democrat, Healthcare Council

Cc: Honorable Alex Sink, Chief Financial Officer & KidCare Coordinating Council Chair
Honorable Ken Pruitt, Senate President
Honorable Marco Rubio, Speaker of the House