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Governor Charlie Crist is proposing a plan to help Florida’s millions of uninsured afford health coverage. The plan cuts cost for working families and provides provisions for doctors to set up their own hospitals. While health care workers are praising some aspects of the plan, Whitney Ray tells us some say the proposal could hurt the community hospitals.

Hear it here: Crist Health Care Plan Worries Hospitals

Four months ago Vanishia Cramity gave birth to a baby girl. She was rushed to the emergency room, but when it came time to pay, she didn’t have insurance to cover the cost.

“I’m still paying it off and that bill is very, very high,” said Cramity.

Cramity said insurance is too expensive for her family. Governor Charlie Crist agrees.

“I want to get health coverage to the 3.8 million Floridians who don’t have health insurance today,” Crist said.

Governor Crist announced a plan to help cut the cost of health insurance for low income families. While the plan would help Florida’s millions of uninsured it could hurt hospitals. The plan would eliminate the Certificate of Need allowing doctors to set up their own hospitals. Florida Hospital Association spokesman Rich Rasmussen said the proposal would create a two tier system.

“Those who have insurance would go to one tier, those that have no insurance would go to another, which would put all of our community hospitals at risk,” said Rasmussen.

Crist said his proposal would create healthy competition.

“If we can have less regulation of how health care is delivered in Florida, we have the opportunity to have lower rates available to people to get more coverage to the uninsured,” Crist said.

The certificate of need was established 30 years ago, whether or not it survives the 2008 legislative session will be up to lawmakers.