Birth Rights

Investigating Florida’s NICA Program

The NICA program was intended to reduce doctors’ malpractice bills and provide a dignified existence and financial cushion for families crushed by the delivery of an infant with devastating brain damage. But some parents report a program that’s both indifferent to their fears and hostile to their needs.

Impact of Our Reporting

A Florida Fund for Injured Kids Raided Medicaid. Now It’s Repaying $51 Million.

by Carol Marbin Miller, Miami Herald

November 15, 2022, 1:15 pm EST

Lawmakers Approve Payments to Parents of Children Who Died of Catastrophic Brain Injuries

by Carol Marbin Miller and Daniel Chang, Miami Herald

March 15, 2022, 12:45 pm EDT

At Last, Florida Families Hit Hard by Their Children’s Birth Injuries Are Promised More Help

by Carol Marbin Miller, Miami Herald

December 10, 2021, 2:50 pm EST

Florida Program to Aid Brain-Damaged Kids Often Told Families No. It’s Promising to Change.

by Carol Marbin Miller and Daniel Chang, Miami Herald

October 29, 2021, 1:25 pm EDT

After 33 Years, Parents of Brain-Damaged Kids Get to Express Disgust With Florida Program

by Carol Marbin Miller and Daniel Chang, Miami Herald

September 17, 2021, 1:15 pm EDT

The Director of Florida’s Program for Brain Damaged Infants Has Resigned

by Carol Marbin Miller and Daniel Chang, Miami Herald

September 16, 2021, 1:45 pm EDT

Audit Confirms That a Program for Brain-Damaged Kids Arbitrarily Denied Claims and Overspent on Perks

by Carol Marbin Miller and Daniel Chang, Miami Herald

August 18, 2021, 5:30 pm EDT

Florida Governor Signs Law Reforming Program for Brain-Damaged Infants

by Carol Marbin Miller and Daniel Chang, Miami Herald

June 22, 2021, 6:35 pm EDT

Florida Program to Aid Brain-Damaged Infants Publicly Embraces Reforms It Once Fought

by Carol Marbin Miller and Daniel Chang, Miami Herald

May 5, 2021, 1:40 pm EDT

Florida Lawmakers Send Lifeline to Families With Brain-Damaged Children

by Daniel Chang and Carol Marbin Miller, Miami Herald

April 30, 2021, 12:43 pm EDT

Florida Lawmakers Endorse Wide-Ranging Reforms in Program to Aid Brain-Damaged Babies

by Carol Marbin Miller, Daniel Chang and Mary Ellen Klas, Miami Herald

April 20, 2021, 11:54 am EDT

Florida Plans Audit of Program That Blocks Parents of Brain-Damaged Newborns From Suing

by Carol Marbin Miller and Daniel Chang, Miami Herald

April 9, 2021, 11:17 am EDT

21 stories published since 2021

Accused of Refusing Aid to Disabled Kids, a State Agency Responded — by Hiring a PR Firm

by Carol Marbin Miller and Daniel Chang, Miami Herald

December 29, 2021, 6:00 am EST
“These Findings Boggle My Mind”: Audit Rips Apart Florida Program Created to Aid Brain-Damaged Kids

by Carol Marbin Miller and Daniel Chang, Miami Herald

October 22, 2021, 3:10 pm EDT
Future of Program for Brain-Damaged Children Now Rests With Powerful Florida Official

by Carol Marbin Miller and Daniel Chang, Miami Herald

July 23, 2021, 1:30 pm EDT
To Get a Shot at Justice, They Were Forced to Prove Their Disabled Daughter’s Intelligence

by Carol Marbin Miller and Daniel Chang, Miami Herald

June 24, 2021, 7:30 am EDT
A Program Promised to Pay for Brain-Damaged Infants’ Care. Then It Sent Families to Medicaid Instead.

by Daniel Chang and Carol Marbin Miller, Miami Herald

June 1, 2021, 7:00 am EDT
Parents Want Justice for Birth Injuries. Hospitals Want to Strip Them of the Right to Make That Decision.

by Carol Marbin Miller and Daniel Chang, Miami Herald

April 26, 2021, 8:00 am EDT
“We Are Not Here or Funded to ‘Promote the Best Interest’ of the Children,” Wrote the Head of a Program for Brain-Damaged Infants

by Daniel Chang and Carol Marbin Miller,

April 10, 2021, 5:00 am EDT
She Can’t Sue Her Doctor Over Her Baby’s Death. When She Spoke Out, She Was Silenced Again.

by Carol Marbin Miller and Daniel Chang,

April 9, 2021, 5:00 am EDT
When Births Go Horribly Wrong, Florida Protects Doctors and Forces Families to Pay the Price

by Carol Marbin Miller and Daniel Chang,

April 8, 2021, 9:00 am EDT