Barbara Sharief, Felicia Robinson refile bills to improve Medicaid, primary care access

For the second straight Session, Broward Sen. Barbara Sharief and Miami Gardens Rep. Felicia Robinson are collaborating on legislation meant to improve patient access to Medicaid and mandate more service availability from health care providers.

They’ve filed twin bills ( SB 40 , HB 163 ) that would expand what the state Agency for Health Care Administration ( AHCA ) must require in its contracts with health plans.

The legislation would direct AHCA to set clearer, enforceable standards for the number, type and geographical distribution of providers in each plan’s network to give patients better access to appropriate care.

It would also require that plan beneficiaries have access to network providers during state holidays and outside regular business hours. Under the propo