Behavioral Health Care Shifted to HMOs in Florida

May 17, 2004 Behavioral Health Care Shifted to HMOs in Florida Shortly before midnight on April 30, 2004, Florida legislators passed the Medicaid conforming bill (House Bill 1843) with its plan to require Medicaid health maintenance organization (HMO) enrollees to obtain their community behavioral health care through their health plan. Once again, concern was expressed during debate in the Senate about the potential impact of requiring people with mental illnesses to get their care from HMOs. However, budget committee leaders in the House and Senate argued the change was necessary as part of the effort to curtail rising Medicaid costs . . .