FLORIDA – Gov. Ron DeSantis and his administration faced criticism after a report from Tallahassee suggested the Agency for Healthcare Administration (AHCA) may have lost $160 million.
The report claimed the agency could be responsible for the massive million-dollar loss due to improper accounting and failure to pay a federal penalty related to Medicaid.
During their 60-day legislative session, lawmakers worked on a state budget and scrutinized some of the funds appropriated for AHCA.
News4JAX Political Analyst Rick Mullaney weighed in on the situation.
“It’s a big deal,” he said. “What you’re seeing at the national, state, and local level is greater scrutiny on budgets at all levels.”
News4JAX reached out to the governor’s office for comment on the issue. We were directed to reach out to the AHCA, and Mallory McManus, deputy chief of staff, provided the following statement:
“The rhetoric going around that the $160 million is ‘lost’ is inaccurate and, at this point, fodder for clickbait,” McManus said. “Since this issue was identified, the agency has made staffing changes and hired an independent contractor to recommend opportunities for improvement. Secretary Harris has also implemented process changes in the last three weeks that enhance communication between divisions involved in financial management and better insulate us from human error. ”
State Rep. Wyman Duggan, who chairs the House Ways and Means Committee, expressed alarm over the report.
“This is the public’s money, right? But it’s not our money. It’s the public’s money,” Duggan said. “We are holding it in trust for the citizens and the taxpayers of the state. Any amount of money is an important obligation and responsibility that we have to look after.”
He emphasized that all stakeholders in Tallahassee have an interest in ensuring the money was spent appropriately.
“Remember, any moneys that get appropriated are the result of a budget that the governor has signed,” Duggan said.
Senator Rick Scott, a former two-term governor of Florida, shared his concerns with News4JAX.
“I don’t understand how the state could lose $160 million in federal funding, but it’s concerning,” he said. “We have to know where the dollars went, and there must be accountability and transparency on how it was spent.”
Scott stressed that taxpayers should not bear the burden of this loss. “The last thing the state should be doing is asking for even more of Floridians’ tax dollars to pay back the federal government,” he said.
Mullaney noted the need for clarity regarding the missing funds.
“It’s hard to tell what exactly happened there, whether that $160 million was placed in a different account and got spent as it shouldn’t have been spent,” he said. “Whether it has to be reimbursed, it’s too early to say. But whether you’re in local, state, or national government, you are seeing heightened scrutiny on government spending.”
Duggan reiterated the legislative responsibility to ensure funds are appropriated and spent correctly. “We as legislators are responsible for both appropriating the dollars and following up to make sure all the money is spent consistent with the direction and the appropriation,” he said. “I’m confident that we are going to take that obligation seriously and look into this issue.”
The allegations surrounding the possible mishandling of Medicaid funds appeared to involve Jason Weida, who previously served as AHCA secretary and has since been promoted to Chief of Staff for the governor.
The investigation continues as state officials seek to clarify the situation and ensure accountability.
