Florida Hospital Association

02/20/2026

Florida State University's College of Business recently hosted the 2026 Business of Healthcare Summit. FHA president and CEO Mary C. Mayhew participated on a panel, discussing recent policy and funding shifts shaping health care business models, Medicare and Medicaid financing, and the ripple effects these have on care delivery, the workforce and system sustainability. Learn more >>

Shevaun Harris spoke for a moment not as a top state government official but as a patient and consumer. “I just got fussed at by my doctor because I

02/18/2026

Florida is one of four states awaiting reauthorization of its State Directed Payment Program. Without timely approval from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, hospitals across our state face growing financial uncertainty that puts access to essential health care services at risk for more than 4.2 million Floridians, including 2 million children.

“We have a program proposal from the state of Florida to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services that is inexplicably stuck. Meanwhile, the federal government has approved 32 other states for similar programs,” said Mary C. Mayhew, president and CEO of FHA. Learn more >>

Neal Dunn led 2 letters last year urging approval, but Florida remains one of a handful of states still awaiting action.

02/16/2026

FHA recently released its latest economic impact study, underscoring the significant role Florida’s 337 hospitals play in strengthening the state’s economy. From creating and sustaining jobs to generating tax revenues for essential public services and purchasing goods across communities, hospitals are vital economic engines for Florida’s future.

View the full press release to learn more about the impact of Florida hospitals on our state’s economy >> https://fha.org/FHA/News-Content/New-Releases/Floridas_Hospitals_Contribute__198Billion__States_Economy.aspx?_gl=1*1eyg2si*_ga*MTA0NzMwNDE0NS4xNzU5MTYwMTQy*_ga_3WBMM09571*czE3NzA5NDEzMjMkbzgwJGcxJHQxNzcwOTQxNTg1JGo0NiRsMCRoMA

02/13/2026

The Wall Street Journal reports that the nation’s health and social assistance jobs have grown 12.5% in just three years in a recent article titled “Healthcare Is Propping Up the Job Market”. With an aging population and rising demand for care, the health sector has become one of the nation’s most reliable engines of economic growth.

Florida’s hospitals are part of that momentum. Read the WSJ story here >> https://www.wsj.com/finance/stocks/healthcare-is-propping-up-the-job-marketa3ce973bgaa_at=eafs&gaa_n=AWEtsqfiSKKPnVDeQiOGoANRT3xylhDvGoCSoUtVi_ZpDX7Woh72OxcUUpaSrHCndwk%3D&gaa_ts=698e6f27&gaa_sig=2nE5EY5MIsqRe_ga075JYWkQCJi1exghSejS5ALVqNC-EhDDPWHhpGaaDqcCyS7YoyHx15slehjU9uTEgL8v6g%3D%3D

02/13/2026

Florida hospitals are reimbursed for as little as 47% of the cost of care for Medicaid patients. Before the OBBBA was enacted, Florida’s congressional delegation made sure Florida could implement the Medicaid financing program it needed to bring reimbursement closer to the actual cost of care.

Despite the fact that Florida runs a lean Medicaid program, CMS is delaying approval of that plan and timely access to care for all Floridians is at risk. Learn what’s happening in Mary C. Mayhew’s latest op-ed >> https://floridapolitics.com/archives/778102-mary-mayhew-florida-hospitals-need-fair-medicaid-payments-now/

02/12/2026

Florida runs one of the leanest Medicaid programs in the country. Still, CMS continues to delay approval of a critical piece of health care financing for Florida, putting all Floridians’ access to maternity care, behavioral health treatment and specialty pediatric care at risk.

The majority of other states’ proposals have been approved, while Florida waits in limbo. Learn what’s happening and what’s at stake with continued delay >> https://floridapolitics.com/archives/778102-mary-mayhew-florida-hospitals-need-fair-medicaid-payments-now/

02/09/2026

Following her participation on Congressman Aaron Bean's panel on Capitol Hill, FHA President and CEO Mary C. Mayhew told FloridaPolitics in an interview last week that proposals to expand site-neutral payments and cut the 340B charity drug program could further strain hospitals already under financial pressure. With nearly 30% of Florida hospitals operating at a loss, she warned that Medicare and Medicaid reimbursements fall far below the actual cost of care, threatening access to services like maternity care, cancer treatment and emergency services.

“What we want and need from health care is very straightforward,” Mayhew said. “We want it timely. We want it to be efficient, high quality, and produce the best possible outcomes." Learn more >> https://floridapolitics.com/archives/778538-mary-mayhew-fears-washington-push-to-simplify-policy-could-starve-floridas-hospitals/

02/06/2026

"Florida’s health care system is at an inflection point. Hospitals across the state are doing everything they can to keep maternity units open, maintain inpatient psychiatric care and preserve access to specialty children’s care — because Floridians depend on them. But they are working against the headwinds of Medicaid reimbursement amounts that cover only a fraction of the actual cost of care," said Mary C. Mayhew in an opinion piece published this morning in the Tampa Bay Times, urging the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services to approve Florida's State Directed Payment program. Learn more >>

The agency has approved dozens of other states’ Medicaid State Directed Payment programs, but Florida’s ‘remains inexplicably stalled.’

02/05/2026

U.S. Congressman Aaron Bean hosted a Path to Consensus Summit today as part of his ongoing effort to explore ways to make America’s health care system more affordable, bringing together health care leaders to discuss hospital reimbursement and the future of the 340B Drug Discount Program.

FHA President and CEO Mary Mayhew participated on a panel this afternoon, voicing opposition to site neutral payments. Other panelists included Dr. Asmita Mishra, Medical Director of Payer Strategies for Moffitt Cancer Center, and proponents of site neutral: Michael Baker, Director of Health Care Policy for the American Action Forum and Anna Bonelli, Director of Health Policy for the Committee For a Responsible Federal Budget. Learn more >> https://floridapolitics.com/archives/778242-aaron-bean-to-host-health-care-summit-on-prescription-drug-policy

02/05/2026

Florida runs one of the leanest Medicaid programs in the country. Still, CMS continues to delay approval of a critical piece of health care financing for Florida, putting all Floridians’ access to maternity care, behavioral health treatment and specialty pediatric care at risk.

The majority of other states’ proposals have been approved, while Florida waits in limbo. Learn what’s happening and what’s at stake with continued delay >>

Florida hospitals need fair Medicaid payments to protect access statewide

02/04/2026

Last week, David Mica Jr., FHA’s Executive Vice President of Public Affairs, was honored to speak on the advocacy priorities and synergies between our association and the Florida College of Emergency Physicians to ensure that Florida’s hospitals can continue essential operations during emergencies.

01/29/2026

Many thanks to the more than 100 hospital staff who joined us in Florida’s Capital City for FHA’s 2026 !

This annual event gives Florida’s hospital leaders an opportunity to share their experiences – helping legislators understand the complexities of hospital operations, the challenges they navigate and their dedication to delivering high-quality care for Floridians close to home.

Let’s continue working together to advocate for a healthier future for all Floridians!