‘Telehealth' plan teed up for approval in Florida

‘Telehealth’plan teed up for approval in Florida

After years of failing to reach agreement, Florida lawmakers could be poised to pass legislation to establish a framework for “telehealth.” Telehealth, which is also known as telemedicine, involves using the internet and other technology to provide services to patients remotely. Telehealth is not a type of health care service but rather is a mode to deliver services. More from Health News Florida, WTXL, and the Orlando Sentinel.

‘Privacy’ fears? Florida lawmakers use old argument against attorney general’s opioid bill

Throughout the 2000s, Florida lawmakers tried repeatedly to create a database of drug prescriptions to fight the pill mill crisis as it bloomed into a full-blown epidemic. But every year for nine years, it was shot down over concerns about patient privacy. Now, Florida senators are using the same excuse they used then — patient privacy — to reject a request by Florida’s top law enforcement official. [Source: Tampa Bay Times]

Another case of measles investigated in Florida

Officials with the Florida Department of Health are investigating another case of the measles. Health officials in Pinellas County said Wednesday the case was reported in a 72-year-old man who recently traveled to Asia. The case marks the second reported in Florida amid a recent uptick in measles cases reported throughout the U.S. [Source: WKMG]

PolitiFact Florida: TV ad misleads on Florida plan to import drugs from Canada

As the Florida Legislature moves toward creating a program to import prescription drugs from Canada, an opponent’s TV ad says the legislation could have deadly consequences. The message is from The Partnership for Safe Medicines, comprised of dozens of groups including Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America, the lobbying group that includes major drug companies. Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis is a key advocate for the bill. He disputes the ad’s message. [Source: Tampa Bay Times]

Key hospital budget issues resolved

Florida lawmakers are close to reaching a deal on health-care spending for the coming year. House and Senate negotiators Friday agreed on many spending issues across five state health-care agencies, including how to pay Florida’s hospitals for treating poor, elderly and disabled people. [Source: WUSF]

ALSO AROUND FLORIDA:

› Broward Health cuts legal fees to spend more on health care [South Florida Sun-Sentinel]
Broward Health, the taxpayer-funded health care system that serves Fort Lauderdale and the northern two-thirds of the county, may finally have put an end to the huge legal fees and dysfunction that took money away from medical services for people in need.

› Florida man contracts flesh-eating bacteria while fishing [WFTS]
A Florida man has been hospitalized at a Tampa hospital after contracting a life-threatening flesh-eating bacteria while fishing out in the Gulf of Mexico. Mike Walton is being treated at Tampa General Hospital for flesh-eating disease, necrotizing fasciitis, a bacterial infection that's extremely rare in the United States.

› Nicklaus Children’s laid off 135 employees but plans to open a second hospital in Miami [Miami Herald]
Nicklaus Children’s Hospital, the only stand-alone pediatric hospital in Miami-Dade and one of the county’s top private employers, has laid off 135 employees or more than 3 percent of its workforce. The job cuts at Nicklaus come amid flagging patient admissions, reductions in insurer reimbursements and rising costs for drugs and other supplies.

› How is it going at Bayfront Health St. Petersburg? City officials have questions. [Tampa Bay Times]
In its annual report to City Hall last June, Bayfront Health St. Petersburg painted a bright self-portrait of a thriving corporate citizen, here to “serve the community.” While patient admissions to the hospital were down, the amount spent on charity care was up.

Tags: Health Care eNews

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