In Florida, mid-term elections hold little hope for Medicaid expansion

| 7/10/2018

In Florida, mid-term elections hold little hope for Medicaid expansion

Can the deep-red Florida statehouse follow Virginia and expand Medicaid? Highly unlikely anytime soon, many state political analysts say. It’s been three years since the Florida Legislature last debated — and overwhelmingly rejected — Medicaid expansion under the Affordable Care Act. [Source: Miami Herald]

Nursing homes not on FPL list to get power first after hurricanes

None of the more than 1,000 nursing homes and assisted living facilities in South Florida are on Florida Power & Light’s highest priority list for power restoration. FPL rejected Broward and Miami-Dade counties’ lists that included nursing homes because for both counties, the sheer number of facilities submitted exceeded how many can be prioritized. “It was determined by FPL that the list exceeded the agreed 20 percent threshold,” said Charles Cyrille, deputy director of Miami-Dade’s Office of Emergency Management. “We are currently in the process of revising the list to meet the 20 percent.” More from WUSF and the South Florida Sun-Sentinel.

Florida company's app gives families a peek into how surgery is going

The idea behind EASE, or Electronic Access to Surgical Events, is simple: it enables clinicians and operating room staff to send Snapchat-like updates to families who are anxiously waiting outside. More than 35 hospitals and health systems nationwide have started using the app, according to the company, and 11 more are in talks with EASE. [Source: Orlando Sentinel ]

Is Florida doing enough to help people with mental health issues?

A crash caused by a despondent man raises issues over how Florida handles people with mental health problems. The driver was Baker Acted after police found him despondent. In 2015-16 fiscal year, about 194,000 people were placed under the baker act in Florida [Source: WTSP]

Florida Healthy Kids debuts monthly insurance premium calculator

A new online tool could help some Florida families quickly determine how much health insurance for their children will cost. The Florida Healthy Kids Corporation recently debuted an eligibility calculator that uses family size and annual household income to estimate a monthly premium for Florida KidCare coverage. [Source: Health News Florida]

ALSO AROUND FLORIDA:

› Lack of VA hospital in Jacksonville means long drives for certain types of care [Florida Times-Union]
The lack of a VA inpatient hospital in Jacksonville is something that U.S. Rep. Al Lawson has been hearing a lot about. The freshman Congressman said that since taking office in January 2017 he’s received more than 40 complaints about veterans having to drive to Gainesville for treatment.

› Hospitals in Northeast Florida keep construction contractors busy [Florida Times-Union]
On July 26 the Dorothy J. and Harry T. Mangurian Jr. Building, a five-story, 190,000-square-foot structure that will expand the Mayo Clinic’s cancer, neurological and neurosurgical care programs, will have a dedication ceremony.

› Toxic algae blooms' long-term health effects need study, hospital CEO says [TCPalm]
What we don't know about toxic blue-green algae can hurt us. A study is needed to determine the long-term effects of exposure to toxic blooms, Rob L. Lord Jr., president and CEO of the Martin Health System, told U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson.

› Florida Department of Health warns Walton County residents about rabies [WJHG]
The Florida Department of Health in Walton County is warning residents about rabies. Officials urge residents to avoid contact with wild and stray animals to protect themselves. They said in Florida, high-risk animals for rabies include raccoons, bats, foxes, and unvaccinated cats.

Tags: Health Care eNews

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