You may have seen online and on the news the controversy surrounding recent efforts by state governments to require that welfare applicants be drug tested before they are approved to receive benefits. While many people support this move, after all most of us are paying state taxes which pay for welfare, a surprising number oppose it. Some welfare recipients have even been quoted as saying that they think it’s a good idea. Paying for drug testing for the large number of new applicants will cost state governments significant amounts of money. In Florida, which passed their new drug testing requirement to be effective on July 1, 2011, the estimated cost for the program is expected to be in the 
millions of dollars at a time of severe budget cuts. It is likely the bill will be challenged not only because it will be expensive to implement but it has already been ruled unconstitutional in other states, such as Michigan, where the law lasted only 5 weeks.
New applicants for Florida’s Temporary Assistance for Needy Families – Temporary Cash Assistance (TANF-TCA) must pay out of their own pocket for a drug test and will be reimbursed only if they pass the test. During the application process, applicants are provided with a website listing testing locations (http://www.dcf.state.fl.us/programs/access/drugtestsites.shtml) from which they can select “List of Drug Testing Providers” to find locations by county. The prices of the tests are included in the listing so that applicants know what to expect when they arrive. Because applicants also know that they will only be reimbursed and receive money after passing the test it could have the effect of self-elimination from the application process. It would make sense that only applicants who are not using drugs will even apply for benefits.
Applying for unemployment, welfare and food stamps can be stressful and those who have struggled and recently had to try to get financial support may feel demoralized. Adding a drug test will not help those already dealing with a lack of self-confidence. The additional step of drug testing, beyond the emotional aspects of the testing, can only be seen by applicants as a delay in receiving benefits and a judgment on those who apply. The ANY LAB TEST NOW® locations listed on the state website can provide discreet, professional testing that won’t add an additional layer of emotional stress to the already difficult situation of applying for state benefits. The ability to obtain drug testing quickly, without long lines, at these locations will help to speed the process and it is a boon that the state of Florida is reaching out to private providers of the tests and hasn’t tried to take on this task itself. One of the benefits of working with ANY LAB TEST NOW® locations is that the Medical Assistants are familiar with the TCA Drug Testing Information Acknowledgement and Consent Release form required by the state and will ensure that applicants get the correct test.
Whether or not the bill, signed by Governor Rick Scott on May 31, remains in place is still to be seen, but Florida seems to be handling the implementation well. Time will tell whether the drug testing requirement will really save the state welfare dollars as Gov. Scott has proclaimed. The inconvenience of adding another step to the process may deter people who are in great need from applying and therefore, some children who are relying on their parents to provide for them, whether working or not. Hopefully those applying will follow through and give the process time to work the kinks out. Using private drug testing facilities, such as ANY LAB TEST NOW®, allows applicants more flexibility in scheduling and professionalism to meet their needs and get them on track to receiving much needed benefits, and ultimately back on their feet.
