New Florida law cracks down on opioid prescriptions

| 7/3/2018

New Florida law cracks down on opioid prescriptions

As Florida’s new law on opioid prescriptions went into effect Sunday, patients seeking relief from pain may find there have been changes in what they are prescribed, the dosages they are given and perhaps even in the physician who will treat them. More from the Sarasota Herald-Tribune, the Naples Daily News, and WINK.

State weighs adding data to health transparency site

There is no “launch date” for new data to be uploaded to a Florida website aimed at improving health-care price transparency, a top state official told members of an advisory council. The state hasn’t decided when to make the updated cost information about care at local hospitals available on the FloridaHealthPriceFinder website. [Source: WJXT]

‘Largest health-care fraud’ takedown ever nets 124 in South Florida

The South Florida United States Attorney’s Office announced 124 charges against South Florida doctors, nurses and other licensed medical professionals on Thursday as part of what authorities are calling the largest nation-wide takedown on health care fraud and those fueling the opioid crisis. See the full news release from the U.S. Attorneys office, here. Also read more at WLRN and the Palm Beach Post.

State's adult fitness levels lower than national average

Florida is below the national average when it comes to recommended weekly fitness goals for adults. A new CDC report shows only about 21 percent of adults in the state met exercise recommendations from Health and Human services. [Source: Health News Florida]

WellCare’s stock price keeps rising. Here’s why the Tampa corporate giant is on such a roll.

At the half way point in the trading year, the Tampa-based managed health care plan provider’s stock price shot up 22 percent, compared to less than 2 percent for the S&P 500. The company’s stock price is up 134 percent over the past two years and has more than quadrupled over the past five. [Source: Tampa Bay Times]

ALSO AROUND FLORIDA:

› Planned Marion hospital spurs legal challenge [Health News Florida]
Three hospitals in Marion and Citrus counties are challenging a state decision to sign off on a new 66-bed hospital in Marion County, according to documents posted on the state Division of Administrative Hearings website.

› Florida urogynecology network pays $1.7 million to settle allegation of false claims [Orlando Sentinel]
A Florida urogynecology network has agreed to pay $1.7 million to settle allegations that it billed the government for services it did not provide, federal prosecutors said.

› HIV is on the rise in Florida and young people don’t seem to care [Tampa Bay Times]
Florida continues to rank at or near the top nationally for HIV diagnoses and local health officials say they are seeing more cases among people in their early teens to early 20s.

› UCF Health posts $5.8M loss, has high risk of doctor turnover, report finds [Orlando Sentinel]
UCF Health, which operates two clinics open to the public, reported an operating loss of $5.8 million in 2017 and risks losing doctors, according to an outside consultant hired to review the organization’s finances and practices.

Tags: Health Care eNews

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