MEDIA ADVISORY February 19, 2026   CONTACT Jossie Barroso jossie@healthyfla.org     Health Advocates Warn Florida Bills Would Deepen Harm from Federal Medicaid and SNAP Cuts   Tallahassee, Fla. - As the federal “One Big Beautiful Bill Act” (H.R. 1) threatens nearly $1 trillion in Medicaid cuts nationwide and puts an estimated 2.2 million Floridians at risk of losing health coverage, health and nutrition advocates warned today that SB 1758 and HB 693 put forward by Florida

Niadu is a hardworking grandmother in Riverview, Florida who describes herself plainly and confidently. “I’m 51,” she declares, “proud 51.” Niadu recently became the full-time caregiver of her four grandchildren after they lost both of their parents in a tragic event. She has had to leave full-time employment to care for them, which has profoundly affected her financial stability and access to healthcare.    Niadu is now navigating multiple systems for her grandchildren: Med

Michelle is a 47 year-old mother of six, a part-time school employee, and the primary caregiver for her 17 year-old son, Bryce, who battles cancer and other serious conditions. Her life has been shaped by years of constant vigilance, advocacy, and financial strain as she navigates a complex and often inaccessible healthcare system.  Through all the challenges, Michelle works hard to center Bryce’s wellbeing and resilience. She calls him “my Superman,” sharing that even in his

Kathy grew up in New England and spent most of her life working hard and building stability. She worked for over 20 years at a payroll service company providing tech support for payroll software used by McDonald’s restaurants. “When I graduated, I got a really good job at a payroll service, and I was there for 21 years.”     Her steady job allowed her to become a homeowner at a young age: “I had my first house at age 26. I had multiple cars. I had a motorcycle and two antique

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE February 6, 2026   CONTACT Jossie Barroso Communications Director, Florida Voices for Health jossie@healthyfla.org     ICYMI: Health Care Advocates Rally in Defense of Medicaid at the Florida Capitol, Encourage Floridians to Expand Medicaid    Tallahassee, Fla. – With the relaunch of the Medicaid expansion ballot initiative, health advocates took to the Capitol to encourage Floridians to sign the petition to put Medicaid expansion on the ballot in 2028,

Florida – Today, the Florida Department of Health held a workshop to consider a proposal that would repeal vaccination requirements for children in public schools, including critical immunizations for Hepatitis B, chickenpox, Haemophilus influenza type b (Hib), and the pneumococcal conjugate vaccine. In response, Scott Darius, Executive Director with Florida Voices for Health, shared the following statement. "While we recognize the skepticism that some Floridians feel about