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Protest Erupts Over Gov. Scott's Health Care Cuts

WEST MIAMI DADE (CBS4) - Hundreds of people came on foot, in wheelchairs, and walkers to Tropical Park Friday morning to protest Gov. Rick Scott's budget cuts to the health care industry.

They said his health care cuts, especially those dealing with Medicaid, will have a detrimental impact on their families in a big way.

"The clients won't have the services; that means they'll end up on the street homeless," said support coordinator Wendy Smith. "They won't get the service they need."

The large group of people gathered to protest the $170 million spending cuts Gov. Scott ordered for the Agency for Persons with Disabilities to make in payments to service providers.

"I will probably go back to not talking," said one of the protesters.

Part of the plan includes deep cuts to the rates charged by group homes and caseworkers who help the developmentally disabled. The state decided to cut payments to service providers of people with disabilities by at least 15-percent.

"Medically, it would cut some of the medical problems like dental care and going to the doctor," said Larry Hartman, who was protesting the cuts.

Scott last Thursday ordered a minimum 15 percent cut in payments to providers who serve Floridians with conditions such as autism, cerebral palsy, intellectual handicaps, Down syndrome and other disorders.

The cuts could rise to 30 percent or 40percent for group homes and other businesses that employ caregivers, as administrative allowances also were eliminated by the 90-day emergency order.

"The children's gonna lose the people that take care of them," said protester Maribel Zorrilla.

"It affects my daughter, who's at a school for behavior modification and they are planning to close it down because there are no funds" Letty Lanrian said.

Scott's administration is looking for a federal waiver that would transfer Florida's Medicaid recipients into privately run managed-care programs, or HMO's.

Scott, a failed former health care executive, said the move would save the state around $4 billion over the next two years.

But a similar pilot program run by the state failed to generate much interest and left patients with months of waiting and a drop in care.

Among the proposed cuts, Scott plans to reduce spending for transplant recipients and the uninsured. It would also cut allowances for prescription drugs, transportation, hearing aids, and glasses.

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