A 2005 class-action lawsuit against the state of Florida over it not meeting the federal Medicaid standards will have its opening arguments heard today in a Miami federal court.
The lawsuit has been filed on behalf of the Florida Pediatric Society, Florida Academy of Pediatric Dentistry and all residents under age 21 who now or in the future would be eligible for Medicaid. The suit claims 390,000 children didn’t get a medical checkup in 2007, and more than 750,000 received no dental care because the payment rates are so low for counties to provide a sufficient number of providers.