Alan Levine, secretary of the state Agency for Health Care Administration, will leave his post to take a job that caused a squabble between his boss, Gov. Jeb Bush, and Democratic gubernatorial candidate Jim Davis, of Tampa.
Levine will take over the North Broward Hospital District, which is participating in the state's Medicaid pilot project to move poor and disabled people into for-profit health maintenance organizations and other managed-care groups. Levine set up the program as AHCA chief.
When Levine applied for the job, Davis called it a conflict of interest for Levine to move to a remunerative job with a hospital his agency dealt with, and he called on Bush to fire Levine.
In response, Bush defended Levine and slammed Davis for missing votes in Congress.
Davis isn't backing down. He said through a spokesman Friday that "the needs of Florida's patients and taxpayers are taking a back seat to a search for a bigger pay check."
Levine is expected to clear at least $500,000 in the new job, a nice boost from his current $124,000.
The secretary has not tendered his formal resignation but has spoken to the governor about his departure, Bush staff said on Thursday, adding that Levine leaves behind capable staff ready to implement the Medicaid reforms he began.
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