Rescue helicopter lands on Florida’s Turnpike after rollover crash Health officials give 7.7% boost to Florida Medicaid program

A rollover crash and an emergency rescue helicopter tied up traffic on Florida’s Turnpike during the Friday afternoon rush hour in Broward

A driver was trapped under her car after it overturned about 4:30 p.m. in the northbound lanes near the Sample Road exit, according the Florida Highway Patrol.

Broward Sheriff Fire Rescue stabilized the car and freed the woman, agency spokesman Mike Jachles said.

The woman was flown to Broward Health North. Officials said she was alert and concious but in serious condition.

Two other people were taken to the hospital by ambulance, Jachles said. It was unclear how they were injured.

The highway was closed in both directions as the rescue helicopter landed and again when it took off, said Sgt. Mark Wysocky, FHP spokesman.

The northbound lanes crews cleared the scene.

At one point, southbound traffic was jammed past the Sawgrass Expressway, and motorists heading north were backed up to the Atlantic Boulevard exit.

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Florida health officials said Wednesday they would give insurers a 7.7 percent rate increase in the fledgling Medicaid managed care program, in what has been a contentious battle between Gov. Rick Scott, the insurers and hospitals.

The Republican governor lobbied hard to get federal approval for the statewide managed care program, which launched last year.

He promised it would save money and improve health care for more than 3 million low-income and disabled Floridians.

But now the program seems in desperate need of additional funding, and Scott has been placing blame on the insurance companies and hospitals.

Health insurers have lost $542 million through 2014 and said they can’t afford further losses.

They asked for a $400 million raise and a 12 percent rate increase from the state. Scott’s administration had warned that any increase could negate the roughly 5 percent savings the program has generated and had previously count- ered with a 6.4 percent increase.

The governor strongly opposes pumping any additional state funds into the Medicaid program and wasn’t happy when state lawmakers invested $400 million earlier this year to help hospitals losing other types of federal aid.

The Agency for Health Care Administration said the 7.7 percent increase takes into account the recent legislative hospital rate increase, pharmacy trends including new drugs and other changes.

Scott’s office did not immediately comment Wednesday.

As the state and insurers have been locked in rate negotiations, Scott has repeatedly spoken out and taken action against them, including requiring that insurance company and hospitals send their contracts with each other to the states to ensure they are complying with the law. The governor had alleged that the reason the Medicaid program wasn’t saving more money was because insurers were negotiating hospital rates that were too high.

Earlier this week, Scott announced his administration would conduct random audits on hospitals.