The Black Chronicle

Civil rights groups file complaint over Florida Medicaid eligibility reviews

(The Center Square) — Several civil rights groups filed a complaint Tuesday with the federal government, alleging Florida discriminates against minorities by disproportionately dropping them from Medicaid after eligibility reviews.

UnidosUS — the largest Latino civil rights organization in the nation — said it filed the complaint with the Office of Civil Rights of the United States Department of Health and Human Services after publishing a report earlier this month that found more than 400,000 Floridians had lost their Medicaid coverage.

The organization said in a news release that underserved communities were disproportionately impacted.

In March, a 2020 rule that temporarily paused eligibility reviews of Medicaid recipients expired and states starting purging their Medicaid rolls of those who didn’t meet the income requirements.

According to data from the Kaiser Family Foundation’s Medicaid Enrollment and Unwinding Tracker, Florida’s Medicaid recipients declined 7% from April to July, shrinking from 5.78 million to 5.36 million.

- Advertisement -

In their complaint, UnidosUS alleges Florida has illegally discriminated against Latino, African American and immigrant families in its Medicaid redetermination process.

Also supporting the complaint were Central Florida Jobs with Justice, Florida Health Justice Project, Florida Policy Institute, Hispanic Services Council, Housing Education Alliance, Latino Leadership, National Immigration Law Center, Protect Our Care, State Innovation Exchange Action, Equal Ground and MomsRising/MamásConPoder.

The complaint states that Florida Medicaid violates Title VI of the 1964 Civil Rights Law, which prohibits discrimination based on race or national origin by recipients of federal funds.

Jared Nordlund, UnidosUS Florida Director, stated in a press release that Florida should ensure all eligible children retain their Medicaid coverage.

“Floridians want their leaders to make sure our children grow up healthy and strong,” Nordlund said in a statement. “With two-thirds of Florida’s children relying on Medicaid for their health care, Florida should be leaving no stone unturned in making sure that all eligible children keep their health care.”

Nordlund added that bureaucracy and red tape are preventing parents from being able to renew health coverage for their children.

- Advertisement -

According to the news release, barriers preventing underserved communities from verifying continued Medicaid cover include limited access to the Medicaid agency website, which can only be accessed by a computer; understaffed call centers lacking Spanish-speaking operators; and discriminatory community engagement.

Equal Ground Founder and Director Jasmine Burney-Clark said in a statement, that cutting children from their Medicaid cover is reckless.

“Upholding Title VI and equitable use of federal funds is vital for communities of color,” Burney-Clark said. “This commitment ensures that every citizen, regardless of their background, has equal access to essential services and opportunities. To not prioritize children’s health care at a time when Floridians are struggling to keep up with basic needs like housing and the cost of living is reckless, at best.”

Hot this week

African and Caribbean Nations Call for Reparations for Slave Trade, Propose Global Fund

Nations across Africa and the Caribbean, deeply impacted by...

Sports betting expert offers advice on paying taxes for gambling winnings

(The Center Square) – Tax season is underway, and...

Health care company agrees to pay $22.5 million to settle claims of over billing

A health care company agreed to pay nearly $22.5...

Entertainment district benefits don’t outweigh the cost, economists say

(The Center Square) — Weeks later, after more details...

Business association ‘disappointed’ by WA L&I’s proposed workers comp rate hike

(The Center Square) – The Association of Washington Business...

WATCH: Ex-Democrat founds brand to oppose trans athletes in women’s sports

A growing coalition of female athletes are standing up...

Utah governor signs bill to protect women’s privacy

(The Center Square) – Utah Gov. Spencer Cox signed...

Few schools have updates on their evaluations of Trump’s DEI executive order

(The Center Square) – Across the nation, schools that...

Report: A twist on GPA-based growth could help measure school quality

(The Center Square) – When looking for alternative assessments...

Cotton: Tax that works for the nation’s fifth leading producer

(The Center Square) – Paying into a fund monitoring...

‘Unnaceptable breach’:Columbia apologizes for lab with pro-Palestinian sentiment in it

Columbia University expressed regret and apologized for an astronomy...

The Secret To Successful Aging: Outdoor-Based Activities To Keep You Young

Outdoor activities have been shown to be an important...

SEC’s report on Hinman remains under wraps as review continues

President Donald Trump's administration has yet to release a...

More like this
Related

WATCH: Ex-Democrat founds brand to oppose trans athletes in women’s sports

A growing coalition of female athletes are standing up...

Utah governor signs bill to protect women’s privacy

(The Center Square) – Utah Gov. Spencer Cox signed...

Few schools have updates on their evaluations of Trump’s DEI executive order

(The Center Square) – Across the nation, schools that...

Report: A twist on GPA-based growth could help measure school quality

(The Center Square) – When looking for alternative assessments...