PRESS RELEASE: Haridopolos Announces Health Care Solutions Tour

Jul 28, 2010

Haridopolos Hits the Road to Gather Information on Patient-Centered Health Care Reforms

Merritt Island, Fla. – Incoming Florida Senate President Mike Haridopolos today announced the details of a Health Care Solutions Tour, which will visit a wide range of health care facilities and host roundtable discussions throughout Florida next week.  Haridopolos will headline the tour and will be joined by other legislators from across the state.  The tour will allow lawmakers the opportunity to listen to Floridians know the state’s health care system best and will focus on patient-centered solutions to Florida’s Medicaid crisis.

“This year, we have held 17 committee meetings with over 40 hours of testimony in the Senate discussing Medicaid, a mandated program which already takes up nearly 30 percent of our state budget,” said Haridopolos. “Now, on the road we can listen to those who could not make it to Tallahassee and hear directly from them what we can do to implement health care solutions.”

“Through all of our committee testimony, it became very clear that ObamaCare, which will force an additional 1.4 million Floridians into our Medicaid system, is not a workable or affordable solution,” said Haridopolos.  “But, we are not content to just be against something. We are committed to listening to Floridians and finding real solutions that put patients first.”

“These solutions need to be focused on making our health care system and its funding patient-centered, not government-centered.  Any reforms need to improve access to quality care for Floridians,” added Haridopolos.  “And that is exactly what we hope to accomplish at the conclusion of this tour.”

Details of the Health Care Solutions Tour and accompanying media availabilities are below. 

All facility tours and roundtable discussions are OPEN TO ALL INTERESTED MEDIA.

Please note that some locations and times are subject to change.

Day 1 - Wednesday, August 4, 2010
Borinquen Health Care Center
9:30 – 10 a.m. EST – Site Tour
10:00 – 10:45 a.m. EST – Roundtable Discussion
3601 Federal Highway
Miami, FL 33137
Site information: Federally Qualified Health Center in downtown Miami
Media availability with Sen. Haridopolos and other legislators immediately following roundtable at 10:45 a.m. EST

Hendry County Health Department
1:30 – 2:00 p.m. EST – Site Tour
2:00 – 2:45 p.m. EST – Roundtable Discussion
1100 S. Olympic
Clewiston, FL 33440
Site information: Department of Health facility in Clewiston
Media availability with Sen. Haridopolos and other legislators immediately following roundtable at 2:45 p.m. EST

Day 2 - Thursday, August 5, 2010
Orlando PCAN Clinic
9:00 – 9:30 a.m. EST – Site Tour
9:30 – 10:15 a.m. EST – Roundtable Discussion
101 S Westmoreland Dr
Orlando, FL 32805
Site information: Primary Care Access Network Clinic near downtown Orlando
Media availability with Sen. Haridopolos and other legislators immediately following roundtable at 10:15 a.m. EST

Amerigroup Tampa
1:00 - 1:45 p.m. EST – Site Tour
4200 W Cypress St
10th Floor
Tampa, FL 33607
Site information:  Managed care facility with a wide range of Florida patients

Brandon Regional Hospital
2:30 - 3:30 p.m. EST – Site Tour
119 Oakfield Dr
Brandon, FL 33511
Site information:  For-profit hospital in Brandon

USF College of Medicine
4:00 – 5:00 p.m. EST – Roundtable Discussion
12901 Bruce B. Downs Blvd
Children’s Medical Service Building, 3rd Floor
Tampa, FL 33612
Site information:  Roundtable discussion at USF College of Medicine will bring together leaders from Tampa’s health care community
Media availability with Sen. Haridopolos and other legislators immediately following roundtable at 5:00 p.m. EST

Day 3 - Friday, August 6th, 2010
Shands Hospital at University of Florida
9:00 – 10:00 a.m. EST – Site Tour
1600 SW Archer Rd
Gainesville, FL 32608
Site information: Florida’s largest safety-net hospital
Media availability with Sen. Haridopolos and other legislators immediately following roundtable at 10:00 a.m. EST

Florida State University Medical School
1:00 – 1:30 p.m. EST – Site Tour
1:30 – 2:15 p.m. EST – Roundtable Discussion
1115 W Call St
Tallahassee, FL 32301
Site information:  FSU College of Medicine in Tallahassee, concentrates on educating future primary care physicians

Health Care Solutions Tour, Conclusion Press Conference
2:45 p.m. EST
Hosted by Incoming Senate President Mike Haridopolos
Other participants TBA
Florida Press Center
336 E College Ave
Tallahassee, FL 32301

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