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A federal judge says Florida is failing at providing adequate healthcare to kids on Medicaid. As Matt Galka tells us, the news was a win for children’s advocates.

Dr. Louis St. Petery has been fighting for more Medicaid money for kids for nearly a decade.  St. Petery and the Florida Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics filed a lawsuit in 2005.

“The state doesn’t pay providers, physicians, who see Medicaid kids enough to recruit enough physicians,” he said.

A federal judge ruled in favor of the advocates. He found that nearly 80% of children in the Medicaid program weren’t getting any dental service at all and kids were being forced out of the system.

“It’s great for kids, the state of Florida for many years has not provided children on Medicaid to access for health and dental care,” said Dr. St. Petery.

The ruling said that the state’s Agency for Health Care Administration wasn’t ensuring kids were getting equal services.

The AHCA provided this statement on the ruling:

“The judge’s outdated observations pertain to a Medicaid program that no longer exists. Florida’s new statewide Medicaid managed care program is cost-effective and a working success.”

St. Petery says the new program still isn’t enough.

“The children still don’t have adequate access. I agree, the MMA program is out there, and on paper, perhaps it’s better, but in reality, it’s not,” he said.

Another hearing is scheduled for later this month to determine a proper remedy for the problem.