Check out fawning coverage for Jeb's new idea -- have HMO's manage medicaid in the New York Times. Sounds like an idea packaged by our friend Rove and sure doesn't seem like something done by a pol who doesn't want to make the next step.
Lot's of use of Rove's favorite adjectives -- "bold" and "radical." Jeb's idea is basically to have the state raise the money to pay health care benefits for those eligible for Medicaid and to turn over the money to HMOs to determine what kind of coverage they will provide to those beneficiaries for the money they are given. Oh, and no strings attached! The new HMOs can decide to prohibit the use of a treatment even if it is mandated by Medicaid. FL will also be dependent on several different entities negotiating fees with hospitals and providers rather than one (not exactly the best way to lower prices).
Here's the link in NYT: http://www.nytimes.com/2005/01/23/national/23medicaid.html
And, one from BushIII's website: http://www.myflorida.com/myflorida/showstory.jsp?sk=4623