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Statement by Chief Financial Officer Jeff Atwater Regarding Medicaid Reform Proposals Advocated by Senate
2/16/2011
Contact: Alexis Lambert (850) 413-2842
TALLAHASSEE – Florida’s Chief Financial Officer Jeff Atwater, who will chair the legislatively-created Medicaid and Public Assistance Fraud Strike Force, today released the following statement regarding the Medicaid reform proposals announced yesterday by Senate leaders:
“The Medicaid program has overwhelmed Florida’s budget for far too long, I applaud Senator Joe Negron and Senate leaders for taking on the challenge of reforming this cumbersome program that handcuffs states with one-size-fits-all federal mandates. I also want to commend the bold reforms advanced last year by the Florida House under the leadership of Speaker Dean Cannon and Chairman Denise Grimsley which helped lay the groundwork for reforms this session. I look forward to assisting the Legislature through the work of the Medicaid and Public Assistance Fraud Strike Force. We will be developing new, streamlined efforts for tackling the fraud, waste and abuse in our Medicaid system which is costing Floridians more than $2 billion a year.”
Chief Financial Officer Jeff Atwater, a statewide elected official and officer of the Florida Cabinet, oversees the Department of Financial Services. CFO Atwater’s priorities include fighting financial fraud, abuse and waste in government, reducing government spending and regulatory burdens that chase away capital, and ensuring transparency and accountability in spending.