TALLAHASSEE, FL – The Florida Conference of Catholic Bishops issued the following statement identifying concerns with a problematic framework established by Amendment 2, “Use of Marijuana for Debilitating Medical Conditions.” Full statement follows:
On July 13, the U.S. House of Representatives approved the Conscience Protection Act of 2016 on a vote of 245-182. The measure provides legal protection from government discrimination for all health care providers, entities and health insurance plans that choose not to participate in abortions based on moral or religious objections.
On July 1, 2016, approximately 17,000 low-income, lawfully-residing immigrant children became eligible to participate in Florida's KidCare insurance program. Passed by the legislature during the 2016 legislative session and signed by Governor Scott, the law eliminates the five-year waiting period previously required to qualify for the program.
The Regular Session of the Florida Legislature came to a close (sine die) at 6:45 p.m. on Friday, March 11. The motion to adjourn sine die, Latin for 'without day,' is the last action of a session of the Florida legislature.
HB 89 (Diaz, J.), which eliminates the five-year waiting period for low-income, lawfully-residing immigrant children to participate in the KidCare insurance program, unanimously passed (118-0) the full House on Thursday. The proposal maintains the exclusion of eligibility for undocumented immigrants of any age.
Having previously passed the Senate with nearly all senators signing onto the measure as co-sponsors, SB 232 (Detert) earned the support of the House (115-2) on Wednesday. The bill is now ready to be signed into law and will soon head to Governor Scott for his authorization. Rep. Larry Ahern, a recipient of the Defensor Vitae (Defender of Life) Award at this year's Catholic Days at the Capitol, was the sponsor of the companion measure in the House, HB 403.
On Thursday, the House Health Care Appropriations Subcommittee unanimously (12-0) approved HB 89 (Diaz, J.) that eliminates the five-year waiting period for low-income, lawfully-residing immigrant children to participate in the KidCare insurance program. The proposal maintains the exclusion of eligibility for undocumented immigrants of any age.
HB 221 (Trujillo) requires coverage for emergency services regardless of whether the service is furnished by a participating or nonparticipating provider. The bill reduces out-of-pocket expenses associated with an issue known as 'balance billing' that can occur when patients who need emergency care are treated by providers who are not part of their insurers' networks. The bill was approved unanimously by the Insurance & Banking Subcommittee (12-0). A companion measure in the Senate, SB 1442 (Garcia), was filed last week. FCCB is monitoring these bills.
The House Health Innovation Subcommittee on Wednesday unanimously approved (13-0) HB 89 (Diaz, J.) that would eliminate a five-year waiting period before qualified children of legal immigrants are eligible for the KidCare health-insurance program.
The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) Office of Pro-Life Activities, in cooperation with its partner organization the National Committee for a Human Life Amendment (NCHLA), is urging all U.S. Catholics to contact their federal lawmakers in support of the Abortion Non-Discrimination Act (ANDA). Due to "loopholes and legal weaknesses," current federal laws leave health care workers vulnerable when they decline to violate their religious beliefs in their capacities as health care providers.
