By C1 Staff
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — Florida is moving forward with the privatization of its health care services, even though pending litigation could still block the move.
About 1,900 state workers will receive letters that their jobs will be ending, instead shifting to work under a private, for-profit company starting January 1, according to Tallahassee.com. The letters will hit mailboxes Thursday.
State Department of Corrections Secretary Ken Tucker signed a contract with Corizon Correctional Healthcare on October 15, intending to provide services at roughly 50 facilities. Another contract with Wexford Health Services is pending, which will provide services to the rest of the state.
Both contracts cost $354 million, but an exact breakdown for each was not available according to the Tallahassee.
The privatization plan would save the DOC 15 percent, according to Tucker, because it would introduce technology the state cannot afford. He promised that both companies must retain at least 98 percent of the workforce on the state payroll.
Efforts to privatize health services have been met with 18 months of litigation, first from Tallahassee Attorney Tom Brooks and then from the Florida Nurses Association. Jeanie M. Demshar of the FNA said the roughly 800 health care professionals she represents are concerned about losing pay, benefits and job security.