Navigation Health care groups challenge budget provision allowing civil lawsuits over $15 wage
Three Florida health care groups are suing the state to stop officials from enforcing a provision of the 2022-23 Florida budget that would allow civil lawsuits against Medicaid providers that fail to pay certain workers at least $15 per hour.
The plaintiffs, including the Florida Assisted Living Association, Florida Ambulance Association and the Home Health Care Association of Florida, filed the lawsuit Sept. 27 in the Second Judicial Circuit in Leon County. They argue that the provision allowing civil court actions against providers that fail to pay “direct care employees” a minimum of $15 per hour violates the Florida Constitution.
“While the Florida Assisted Living Association does not comment on pending litigation, we have been consistent with our request of the Legislature and executive branch to provide a delay or relief to providers who are being asked to sign supplemental Medicaid agreements without knowing if they will have the funds to pay the $15 minimum wage mandate,” the association’s CEO, Veronica Catoe, told the Florida Record in an email.
