Use of Florida drug database increases amid opioid fight

Use of Florida drug database increases amid opioid fight

One of Florida’s main weapons to thwart “doctor shopping” has been expanding substantially after the passage of a tough new law aimed at addressing the continuing opioid crisis. State officials said Thursday that more than 92,000 health-care providers had registered to use an electronic database that tracks patients who are prescribed controlled substances. More from the Orlando Sentinel and the Daily Business Review.

See also:
» Too late for many, Florida’s prescription database is finally mandatory
» Florida gets federal money for opioid fight
» New prescription opioid law frustrates pain patients

As natural disasters get worse, we are going to need more resilient hospitals

Major weather events create chaos for the people, communities, and infrastructure in their path. While many can flee these storms in advance to ensure safety, healthcare institutions must stay operational to serve those in need of care. [Source: Fast Company]

Florida Medicaid patients face changes in health plans

About 600,000 low-income patients will be assigned to new Medicaid managed-care plans in the coming months after the state ended contracts with their existing plans. Those patients will be assigned to new health plans, Medicaid director Beth Kidder said last week during a webinar held for health providers. [Source: WJXT]

E-cigarette use increased by 60 percent among Florida’s youth

E-cigarette use among young people in Florida spiked over the past year, according to data released by Tobacco Free Florida. The rate of e-cigarette use among youth between the ages of 11 and 17 increased by 60 percent between 2017 and2018. Nearly one in four high school students now report using e-cigarettes. More statistics in the news release from Tobacco-Free Florida. [Source: Health News Florida]

Florida Trend Exclusive
At EASE: An app developed by doctors gives families peace of mind

Billed as “Snapchat from the operating room,” a new app created by three doctors at OrlandoHealth’s Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children allows doctors and nurses to communicate with the families of their patients via text, photo and video messages that disappear after they are viewed. Full story here. (This article is part of a business news roundup for Central Florida).

ALSO AROUND FLORIDA:

› Nonprofit drug company aims to fight rising prices; Some Jax hospitals are on board [WUSF]
A new not-for-profit drug company, called Civica Rx, is looking to help combat drug shortages and rising prices with the help of health systems and hospitals across the nation, including several in Jacksonville.

› Southwest Florida doctors see increase in hand, foot, and mouth disease [WINK News]
A disease is going around Southwest Florida right now and it is mostly contracted by kids under the age of 7. Doctors say a disease called hand,foot, and mouth disease usually ramps up around this time of the year. Although it is usually contracted by young kids, it can also affect adults.

› Boynton’s first medical marijuana dispensary to be open 7 days a week [Palm Beach Post]
Boynton Beach’s first medical marijuana dispensary, called Trulieve, will operate seven days a week and is expected to open early next month. The store’s opening comes almost two years after Florida voters approved a constitutional amendment legalizing medical marijuana in 2016.

› Polk health officials address racial disparity in infant deaths [Lakeland Ledger]
Black babies born in Polk County are four times more likely to die before their first birthday than white babies, a devastating gap that health officials and advocates are struggling to close. The disparity “is very significant and very disturbing,” said Dr. Joy Jackson, director of the Florida Department of Health in Polk.

Tags: Health Care eNews

Previous Health Care Updates:

• Florida hospitals: Building boom
• Abortion proposal on Florida's November ballot might not end legal fights about the issue
• More leprosy cases are popping up in Florida. Why an ancient disease might be endemic
• Thousands of Florida kids lost Medicaid, now some have no coverage
• Stuck in licensing limbo, Florida nursing students want answers. They're not getting them
• How a nationwide cyberattack is impacting Florida patients and hospitals
• The computer will see you now: Artificial Intelligence usage grows at Florida hospitals
• Measles is a 'heat-seeking missile' experts warn as Florida outbreak grows
• Florida's Medicaid enrollment numbers dip below 4.8 million in January