WASHINGTON, DC�Yesterday, Florida Doctors for America members released a letter expressing outrage at Attorney General Bill McCollum for joining a 20 state lawsuit to block implementation of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA). Forty-seven physicians and medical students in Florida signed a letter stating the lawsuit will harm their patients by delaying Medicaid funding and slowing the implementation of the PPACA in their state.

�This politically tainted lawsuit is a distraction from the real work ahead of us to make sure all of our patients have access to affordable, quality health care. Attorney General McCollum is playing roulette with the lives of uninsured Floridians,� said Dr. Mona Mangat, Regional Director of Doctors for America. �Instead of wasting taxpayer money on politically tainted lawsuits, we need our elected leaders to focus on implementing health reform to ensure our patients get the care they need when they need it.�

There are over 3.6 million uninsured in Florida. The new law will finally put health coverage within reach for these Florida families by prohibiting denial or higher premiums for those with pre-existing conditions, providing subsidies to families and small businesses to purchase insurance, and creating competitive state exchanges where consumers are in control of their health coverage � not insurance companies.

�We are already spending a lot of money providing care to the uninsured in Florida. The new law allows these citizens to receive preventative care and treatment early to avoid the more expensive treatment which we are all paying for now indirectly,� said Dr. Sultan Rahaman, Florida State Director of Doctors for America. �As doctors, we know people get sick and need care. Having health insurance will give patients the peace of mind that they won�t leave the hospital thousands of dollars in debt and instead can focus on getting well.�