The Brief
- A Wimauma father battling advanced lung cancer was repeatedly denied Medicaid coverage for the type of chemotherapy his doctor says he needs.
- Billy Chapple faced months of bureaucratic delays for health care coverage—as he went to the ER and accrued thousands in bills.
- After FOX 13 reached out to the state, the family received a call confirming his Medicaid approval and chemotherapy treatment.
WIMAUMA, Fla. – Billy Chapple was first misdiagnosed with pneumonia in 2024 before doctors discovered his lung cancer. His oncologist prescribed a specific type of chemotherapy tailored to his diagnosis. But under Florida’s Medicaid Medically Needy Program, his coverage remained inactive until outstanding bills were processed, leaving him without access to the prescribed treatment for months.
What we know:
It’s still unclear why the state repeatedly delayed or mishandled Chapple’s paperwork despite multiple submissions and a completed interview. It’s also unknown how many other Florida families face similar delays and denials through the Medically Needy Program—or whether Florida Medicaid will make any systemic changes to prevent these kinds of setbacks in the future.
Timeline:…