On Monday, February 25, over one hundred 1199SEIU Florida nurses and healthcare workers, elected officials and other Floridians gathered in Fort Lauderdale and St. Petersburg to show their support for Medicaid expansion.
Gathering outside the Broward Center for the Performing Arts in Fort Lauderdale, a charged up crowd of over 60 was joined by State Senator Chris Smith and State Representative Perry Thurston.
Jennifer Pinell, a registered nurse from University of Miami Hospital and a single mother of four, stepped forward to share her story.
“Health insurance for my family would cost $600 a month,” said Pinell. “Right now I have to choose between paying for insurance and putting food on the table.”
Both legislators expressed their strong commitment to fighting for Medicaid expansion and highlighted the important economic impact. Senator Smith spoke about the potential for Medicaid expansion to ease Florida’s economic dependence on tourism and other industries. Representative Thurston continued by calling Medicaid expansion ‘a smart investment’ that would create an estimated 65,000 to 80,000 new Florida jobs in the first six years alone.
In St. Petersburg, Verna Pearson, a licensed practical nurse at University Village Nursing Center in Tampa, was one of a number of speakers who shared the deep personal impact of Medicaid expansion. As a caregiver, she spoke about the importance of providing quality care to hardworking Floridians.
“By giving people access to affordable healthcare, we could treat them before they get sick,” said Pearson. “Expanding Medicaid will save lives.”
The Florida Legislature must approve Medicaid expansion by the end of the 2013 state legislative session for it to take effect in 2014 when many other provisions of the Affordable Care Act are implemented. Last week Florida Governor Rick Scott expressed his support for Medicaid expansion, leaving the fate of this critical measure in the hands of the Florida House and Senate.
Gathering outside the Broward Center for the Performing Arts in Fort Lauderdale, a charged up crowd of over 60 was joined by State Senator Chris Smith and State Representative Perry Thurston.
Jennifer Pinell, a registered nurse from University of Miami Hospital and a single mother of four, stepped forward to share her story.
“Health insurance for my family would cost $600 a month,” said Pinell. “Right now I have to choose between paying for insurance and putting food on the table.”
Both legislators expressed their strong commitment to fighting for Medicaid expansion and highlighted the important economic impact. Senator Smith spoke about the potential for Medicaid expansion to ease Florida’s economic dependence on tourism and other industries. Representative Thurston continued by calling Medicaid expansion ‘a smart investment’ that would create an estimated 65,000 to 80,000 new Florida jobs in the first six years alone.
In St. Petersburg, Verna Pearson, a licensed practical nurse at University Village Nursing Center in Tampa, was one of a number of speakers who shared the deep personal impact of Medicaid expansion. As a caregiver, she spoke about the importance of providing quality care to hardworking Floridians.
“By giving people access to affordable healthcare, we could treat them before they get sick,” said Pearson. “Expanding Medicaid will save lives.”
The Florida Legislature must approve Medicaid expansion by the end of the 2013 state legislative session for it to take effect in 2014 when many other provisions of the Affordable Care Act are implemented. Last week Florida Governor Rick Scott expressed his support for Medicaid expansion, leaving the fate of this critical measure in the hands of the Florida House and Senate.
