The state Agency for Health Care Administration (AHCA) is holding several hearings across the state about the future of the five-county Medicaid Reform pilot program.

The first hearing was held in Tallahassee on May 14 (read about it here). The next one is scheduled for June 8 in Jacksonville. Click here to see the full schedule.

The Medicaid Reform pilot program has been underway since 2006 in Broward, Duval, Baker, Clay and Nassau counties. It was an initiative of former Gov. Jeb Bush and was approved by the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) under the administration of his brother, President George Bush.

CMS gave Florida permission, in the form of a federal “waiver,” to move forward with its Medicaid Reform experiment through June 30, 2011.

Under the waiver, Florida must tell CMS by June 30 what it plans to do with the pilot program.

The Florida Legislature voted, in SB 1484, to ask the federal government to extend the waiver beyond 2011. In preparation, AHCA is seeking public comment on how the program has worked.

Results have been inconclusive as to whether it has saved money. Studies have certainly shown that the program has not improved access to health care.

Medicaid Reform is different than the traditional Medicaid program. It allows HMOs and provider service networks to enroll Medicaid-eligible Floridians and offer their own package of benefits. That means that the Reform health plans do not have to abide by state Medicaid guidelines in terms of the amount, duration and scope of services, including pediatric therapies.