Florida Universal Health Care System Approved by Legislature

Florida’s Legislature adopted its own version of a universal health care plan Saturday, and Gov. Lawton Chiles said it could be a model for the federal government to follow.

Legislative approval of Chiles’ proposal to pool the purchasing power of the private and public sectors through regional alliances makes Florida the first state to adopt a plan for what the industry calls managed competition, according to Doug Cook, Chiles’ top health care aide.

State officials were scheduled to present the plan to other governors in Washington on Monday.

Other health care reforms are being implemented or designed at the state level as President Clinton develops his health care proposal.

Oregon received federal permission last month for the nation’s first program to extend government-funded health care to more people by cutting the types of medical services provided. In New York, Gov. Mario M. Cuomo has unveiled a plan to encourage regional health networks and move toward setting fees for doctors.

Florida state Rep. James King warned his colleagues that their legislation won’t fix the system overnight but is an important step.

The idea is to generate market competition and reap the advantages of volume purchasing. Participation in state-chartered, nonprofit alliances created by the plan would be voluntary.

The Community Health Purchasing Alliances, run by boards appointed by the governor and legislative leaders, will develop health plan outlines, deciding specifications that must be met by care providers ranging from traditional insurance plans to health maintenance organizations.

Instead of accepting bids, the alliances will grade plans submitted by insurance companies, HMOs, doctors and hospitals to help participating employers get good quality at the price they are willing to pay.

Supporters acknowledge that it is just a beginning in the struggle to fix a $38 billion state health system that leaves two of every 10 Floridians without basic care.

Most of the 2.5 million uninsured people in Florida are workers or dependents of workers, and most are employed by small business.