Florida's surprise bill law could be template for federal health care legislation

| 8/20/2019

Florida’s surprise bill law could be template for federal health care legislation

Florida is one of nine states that have taken on unexpected health care bills by passing comprehensive regulations. Still, a recent study by the Kaiser Family Foundation found that patients in the state are among the most likely to get surprise bills. Some say Florida's 2016 law provides Congress with a good template for federal legislation. Florida's law provides a process for doctors and insurance companies to work out billing disputes without costing patients more.[Source: Health News Florida]

Two new Obamacare insurers proposed for Florida in 2020

Not only is Obamacare far from dead, it’s profitable and attracting more private insurance companies. Two more companies are seeking to enter Florida’s Affordable Care Act health insurance exchanges in 2020, and unlike in previous years, returning companies are not seeking large premium hikes. The new applicants are Bright Health Insurance Co. of Florida and Cigna Health and Life Insurance Co. [Source: South Florida Sun-Sentinel]

New Florida out-of-hospital birth reports highlight risk

At least six infants and one mother have died in planned out-of-hospital births with midwives since October in Florida, according to new state reports obtained by GateHouse Media. An additional three infants and two mothers suffered catastrophic or potentially life-threatening injuries. The reports were the first filed with the Florida Department of Health under a 2018 law meant to track adverse out-of-hospital birth outcomes. [Source: Sarasota Herald-Tribune ]

Florida Trend Exclusive
Carlos Migoya leads Jackson Health to a full recovery

Jackson Health was on pace to lose almost half a billion dollars a year before Carlos Migoya took over. In the seven years since then, annual surpluses have reached as high as $64 million. Within the next 18 months, Miami’s $2-billion government hospital system will wrap up a $1.8 billion in improvements and expansions. [Source: Florida Trend]

Bolder shoulder: Prosthetic device fuels big growth for medical tech startup

After years of performing shoulder reconstruction surgeries, Dr. Steven Goldberg of Naples could no longer shrug off some of the permanent effects and lengthy recovery times often associated with the procedure. So in 2011, the orthopedic surgeon began the two-year development of a prosthetic that would be less invasive, require less trauma to surrounding bone and tissue, and be performed in about half the time. [Source: Business Observer]

ALSO AROUND FLORIDA:

› Florida Health Care Association elects 2019-2020 officers [Florida Trend]
Florida Health Care Association (FHCA), the statewide trade association which represents over 82% (550+) of Florida nursing centers and over 1,100 professional members, recently elected its 2019-2020 officers. Alex Terentev, Director of Operations for Gulf Coast Health Care, was re-elected President of FHCA and vowed to continue FHCA’s mission of advancing the quality of services, image, professional development and financial stability of its members.

› Mosquito-borne illnesses growing in Florida as West Nile virus crops up in chickens [Miami Herald]
The West Nile virus doesn’t just set up shop in humans. Flocks of chickens in Florida have tested positive for mosquito-borne diseases like West Nile and Eastern equine encephalitis infection (EEEV) in the last month. The West Nile virus was found in chickens in the Belle Glade and Pahokee areas this week, the Florida Department of Health said Thursday.

› Nursing board signs off on 'anesthesiologist' title [WUSF]
John McDonough, an advanced practice registered nurse, has for years identified as a “nurse anesthesiologist,” and he tells his patients the same. Now he can do it with the blessing of the Florida Board of Nursing, which at a meeting last week in Fort Myers unanimously agreed to allow McDonough, a certified registered nurse anesthetist, to officially use the anesthesiologist title.

› Genetic test analysis company has cracked the code [Business Observer]
Rising demand for clinical genetic testing — brought on by advances in what’s known as precision or personalized medicine, which tailors treatments to suit a person’s unique gene code — has created a niche that St. Petersburg-based Informed DNA is ready to fill. Founded in 2007 by Tampa clinical geneticist Rebecca Sutphen, the original business model was to be a provider of genetic counseling services to individuals. The firm reinvented its business model in 2013 to focus on working with health insurance companies.

Tags: Health Care eNews

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