Florida Grand Jury Finds DeSantis Administration Misused $10 Million Medicaid Settlement for 2024 Politics
Updated
Updated · CBS New York · Aug 27
Florida Grand Jury Finds DeSantis Administration Misused $10 Million Medicaid Settlement for 2024 Politics
3 articles · Updated · CBS New York · Aug 27
Summary
$10 million from a Centene Medicaid settlement meant to reimburse Florida for overbilling poor children's health coverage was diverted to the Hope Florida Foundation, then routed to PACs and the Republican Party of Florida, the grand jury found.
The report said the money was rushed through during the 2024 hurricane emergency and election season, with Hope Florida receiving the funds within seven days while the remaining $57 million for taxpayers could be repaid over more than a year.
James Uthmeier was identified as a central figure: testimony tied him to directing the money after it reached Hope Florida, and his PAC, Keep Florida Clean, received $8.5 million before sending $7 million to the state GOP.
The grand jury said it lacked enough evidence to bring criminal charges because key officials claimed not to remember who approved the transfer, though it said taxpayer money was plainly used for partisan purposes.
Ron DeSantis, Ashley Moody and Uthmeier have denied wrongdoing or declined comment, while the report urges Florida lawmakers to require state recoveries to go into the general fund and impose tracking and penalties.