Advocating for Access to Health Care

Florida Health Justice Project engages in comprehensive advocacy to expand health care access and promote health equity for vulnerable Floridians.

Call to Action!

On November 10,  the U.S. Supreme Court heard the case of California v. Texas, challenging the Affordable Care Act.
There is a lot at stake for Floridians:
  • loss of health insurance for 2 million people
  • loss of protection for pre-existing condition coverage
  • loss of safety-net for newly uninsured 
Over 200 Florida organizations and individuals signed this letter urging Florida to withdraw from the case.

The Case for Medicaid Expansion:

The Florida Health Justice Project speaks with Dr. Olveen Carrasquillo, a leading Miami physician, about the challenges faced by his many uninsured patients and the devastating impact  from Florida’s failure to expand Medicaid.

Health Justice Requires Racial Justice: 
Florida Health Justice Project Joins Demands  to End Systemic Racism and Police Brutality
Read statement from FHJP team here

Coronavirus and Health Care Access

The State of COVID-19 in Florida and South Florida:​
An Early Look at Disparities in Outcomes
COVID-19 Testing & Treatment Resources for Uninsured Florida Residents  
(Updated July 28, 2020)
Medicaid Recipients: Know Your Rights | Conozca Sus Derechos

FEATURED PROJECT
Florida Health Justice Stories

Kelly

After a lifetime of security and serenity living in her own home, Kelly Percival’s life was jolted into crisis after an unfortunate accident left her hobbling and a global pandemic left her unemployed.
Read more

Alene

Alene, a 74 year old Brevard County native, worked her entire life. After retiring from her career in customer service, she found herself itching to get back to work. In her late 60s, she started a second career as a security guard. But at age 71, she started to experience severe pain and trouble walking.
​Read more

George

George, a 56 year old truck driver and native of Pennsylvania moved to Florida in 2019 to be closer to his daughter. He had suffered heart problems in the past and hoped that the move to Florida would decrease his stress levels.
​Read more

Featured Recent Training:

Florida Elder Health Justice in the Time of COVID-19 
Session Recordings, Materials and CLE Credit Available Here

Featured Publications:

Mental Illness and Criminal Justice in Florida:
The Case for Medicaid Expansion
Connecting the Dots:
How Medicaid Expansion will Improve Public Health, Increase Financial Stability, and Lessen Disparities in South Florida​
State of COVID-19 in Florida and South Florida: 
An Early Look at Disparities in Outcomes 
The Path Forward: 
Florida's 2020 Policy Blueprint

FHJP in the News


Do Florida Lawmakers know COVID-19 is a public health emergency? They're not acting like it | Opinion
FHJP's Miriam Harmatz & Alison Yager wrote an op-ed in the Miami Herald about Florida's need to expand Medicaid during the COVID pandemic 
Read more
Medicaid could keep even more people healthy if Florida agreed to expand it | Opinion
FHJP Executive Director Miriam Harmatz wrote an op-ed in the Miami Herald to commemorate Medicaid's 54th birthday.
​Read more

​Medicare doesn't cover dental care. For many Florida seniors, that's a problem.
FHJP's Stories Project connected Sonia and Miguel with a Miami Herald reporter, who then wrote about the need for adding a dental benefit to Medicare. 
​Read more