Florida Keys cope with suicide spike after Hurricane Irma

| 7/31/2018

Florida Keys cope with suicide spike after Hurricane Irma

Monroe County already had one of the highest suicide rates in the state of Florida. Then came Hurricane Irma. And although most of the debris has been removed from land - and lots of repairs are underway — the storm continues to impact the Keys, almost a year later. [Source: WGCU]

Florida health care plan must repay $5.75 million to Medicare

A federal judge has rejected a Florida health care prepayment plan’s challenge to a U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services decision requiring it to return $5.75 million in Medicare reimbursements because it overpaid the doctor who also acted as its chief executive. [Source: Reuters]

NSU ceremony honors its first class of much-needed doctors

Nova Southeastern University took a symbolic step toward replenishing the anticipated doctor drought with a first-ever joint White Coat ceremony on Saturday, welcoming the first class of Doctors of Medicine and the 38th class of Doctors of Osteopathic Medicine. See the news release from NSU here. Also read more at the South Florida Sun-Sentinel and the AP.

Andrews Institute receives $1M grant to research regenerative medicine

The state of Florida just gave a huge vote of confidence — and a huge chunk of change — to a Gulf Breeze research institute that's blazing trails in the field of regenerative medicine. The Andrews Research & Education Foundation recently received a $1 million grant from the Florida Department of Health to support research into the healing properties of stem cells. [Source: Pensacola News Journal]

State medical marijuana chief stepping down

Christian Bax, who’s been at the helm of what is now known as the Office of Medical Marijuana Use since the first cannabis products went on the shelves, leaves as state health officials gird for another round of headaches as they prepare for an onslaught of applications for a handful of highly sought-after marijuana licenses. [Source: WLRN]

ALSO AROUND FLORIDA:

› Blue-green algae in St. Lucie River sending people to emergency rooms [TCPalm]
Fifteen people treated last week by Martin Health System emergency rooms, clinics and primary care doctors for symptoms consistent with algae toxins reported they had contact with the St. Lucie River within the previous seven days.

› Column: UWF ready and able to meet Florida's health care needs [Pensacola News Journal]
The mission statement of the University of West Florida charges us to serve the needs of the professions and society. With that in mind, UWF stands ready, willing and able to produce the health care and health industry experts our communities need.

› Orlando Health opens new CareSpot urgent care center in Ocoee [Orlando Sentinel]
Orlando Health and its urgent care partner CareSpot opened their tenth and newest facility Monday, in Ocoee. In the race to create more access points for patients, local health systems continue to build new urgent care centers in Central Florida.

› Health care company sues to get Rick Scott’s schedule [Times/Herald]
A not-for-profit health care company that lost a bid to renew its Medicaid contract with the state had a question for Gov. Rick Scott: Where can we find you? They asked his staff to send them a copy of his schedule — in the office and on the campaign trail — for the next three months so they could talk to him about their concerns.

Tags: Health Care eNews

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