Florida TaxWatch Examines Impact of an Incomplete Census Count on Healthcare Funding, Loss of Billions in Federal Dollars
Tallahassee, Fla. – Today, Florida TaxWatch released The Consequences of a Census Undercount on Florida’s Healthcare Funding. Building on a July 2022 Florida TaxWatch commentary, Looking Back at Census 2020: What Florida’s Business and Community Leaders Need to Know, this primer examines Florida’s history of census undercounts, the consequences on Florida’s healthcare funding, and considerations to support the 2030 Census.
Florida TaxWatch President and CEO Dominic M. Calabro said, “A complete census count secures Florida taxpayers’ fair share of federal representation and funding. In 2020, Florida’s census undercount cost the state one, potentially two, congressional seats and resulted in a loss of federal funding that will range from $11 billion to $21 billion by the end of the decade.”
Florida TaxWatch Executive Vice President and General Counsel Jeff Kottkamp said, “Looking ahead to the 2030 census, it is critical Florida works toward a complete and accurate count of all people living in Florida to effectively maintain the delivery of healthcare services. An accurate statewide count is important to securing the state’s deserved share of federal funding and compiling accurate data with which to plan for the health care needs of Floridians.”
A census undercount impacts the state at large; however, the consequences felt by the healthcare industry are some of the most severe. The undercount limits the accuracy of critical data used in planning services and determining allocations for large federal programs.
Healthcare providers use census data to identify areas with growing demands. Amid an undercount, projected populations may be larger than anticipated, resulting in expensive expansions or new constructions that cannot keep pace with growth. Service gaps can emerge, especially if certain populations, such as childbearing aged women or elderly populations, are not properly identified.
Among all federal programs, Medicaid is most vulnerable to a census undercount. Matching dollars for Medicaid are set at a rate based upon population count. The program has no funding cap, meaning a more favorable rate could result in more dollars returned to a state. As the costliest program in the state budget, the smallest discrepancies in the census count can cost Florida taxpayers millions of dollars.
The estimated loss of matching Medicaid dollars is $2.3 billion and that’s only the tip of the spear. Other health-related programs are also affected, but without socio-economic data, it is hard to estimate the full extent.
As the 2030 Census approaches, Florida TaxWatch encourages residents to take action to prepare by:
1) Staying up to date on census-related issues (see more from the Florida TaxWatch Census Institute),
2) Spreading awareness about the importance of decennial census,
3) Using your voice to encourage involvement by businesses and government officials, and
4) Investing in the community through philanthropic organizations or grassroot efforts that help residents complete their census surveys.
To learn more and access previous reports, please click here.
About Florida TaxWatch
As an independent, nonpartisan, nonprofit government watchdog and taxpayer research institute, and the trusted “eyes and ears” of Florida taxpayers for more than 45 years, Florida TaxWatch (FTW) works to improve the productivity and accountability of Florida government. Its research recommends productivity enhancements and explains the statewide impact of fiscal and economic policies and practices on taxpayers and businesses. FTW is supported by its membership via voluntary, tax-deductible donations and private grants. Donations provide a solid, lasting foundation that has enabled FTW to bring about a more effective, responsive government that is more accountable to, and productive for, the taxpayers it has served since 1979. For more information, please visit www.floridataxwatch.org.